A-^.  ^'/-^ 


Bulletin  No.  10— New  Seuies. 

U.  S.  DIIPARIMKN  r   OF  ACiRlCUl.rURI 

DIVISION  OK  KN  roMoLo(;v. 


SOME 


MISCELLANEOUS  RESULTS 


OK   TMK 


WOIIK  OF  THE  DIVISION  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


UNIV.  OF  FL  LiB. 


t       -**^,*^ 


11 K PARED   UN 


JDEK  THE   DIRECT, 


CTioifi.^  DEPOSITORY 


L.    O.    HOWARD, 

ENTOAIOI.OCJIST. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT     PKINTTNO     OFFICE. 
1898. 


I>insi(>\  nr  ENTOMOLOGY. 

i  itiom,,:.,.,,-'  ■  I-  ^>-  llowaril. 

Assi.t.  KntomoloiiisU:  C.  L.  Marlatt.  Th.  Perprantle,  V.  H.  Chittemleu,  Frank  Benton. 

Innaliijators  :  E.  A.  Sclnvai/,  H.  G.  Hubbard,  D.  W.  Co<inillett. 

AHsistaniH :  K.  S.  Clifton.  Nathan  Banks,  F.  C.  Pratt,  Aug.  Busck. 

Arlist:  Miss  L.  .Sullivan. 


Bulletin  No.  10-New  Series. 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OE  AGRICULTUR}^ 

DIVI.SIUN  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


S  O  M  E 


MISCELLANEOUS  RESULTS 


OF   TIIK 


WORK  OF  THE  DIVISION  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


PREPARED   UXDER   THE   DIRECTION   OF 
ENTOMOLOGIST. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 
1898. 


TTIiR  01-  TRAXSMITTAI. 


U.  S.  Dki'autment  of  Agriculture, 

Division  of  Entomology, 
]V(is}tiH<jto)t,  J).  C,  JJecemher  J:jj  1S97, 
►Sir  :  1  lia  VI'  tlic  Iioikh-  to  transmit  herewith  the  manuscript  of  a  bulle- 
tin which  contains  matter  comparable  to  tliat  contained  in  No.  7  of  the 
new  scries,  viz,  miscellaneous  articles,  reports  and  notes  wliicli  are  diffi- 
cult to  classify,  but  which  deserve  prompt   publication.     1   therefore 
recommend  its  publication  as  bulletin  10.  new  series,  of  this  Division. 
Kesx)cctfully. 

L.  ().  Howard. 

IJnttnmtlitgist. 
Hon.  James  Wilson, 

JSecrctary  of  A(/rivi(ltiirt\ 
2 


COXTIiNTS 


iNTKODlc  TION „ 5 

Till-:  1*EA(  II  TwiG-BOKEK  (Jnorsia  Vineaidla  Zell.)  (illustrated). C  /..  Marlatt..  7 
The   Fig-eater,   ou  Gkeen  Juxe   Beetle   (Allorhiua   nitida  Liun.)   (illus- 
trated)   L.  O.Howard..         20 

Notes  ox  Cucumber  Beetles  (illustrated) F.H.  Chiitenden . .        26 

The  Sugar-cane  Borers  of  Java  (illustrated) L.  Zehutner..        32 

Two  Japanese  Insects  Injurious  to  Fruit  (illustrated)..  J/.  .VafsMmMra..        36 

Destructive  Locusts  ix  1897 W.D.  HunUr. .        40 

On  Insects  that  affect  Asparagus  (illustrated) F.H.  Chiitenden..        54 

Further  Notes  on  the  House  Fly L.  0.  Howard. .        63 

The    Bui'Falo-(;nats,    or    Black-flies,    of    the    United    States    (illus- 
trated)   D.W.  Coquillett..        66 

Ox  THE  Habits  of  the  Oscixid.e  and  Agp.omyzid.k  Reared  at  the  Uxited 

States  Department  of  Agriculture D.  f/'.  CoquiUett..        70 

The  Tobacco  Flea-beetle  (Ejntnx parvula  Fab.)  (illustrated) 

F.  H.  Chittenden..         79 

Notes   ox  the   Strawberry  Weevil:   Its   Ixjuries   and    Bibliography 

F.  H.  Chittenden..         82 

General  Notes 87 

A  Peculiar  Damage  to  the  Apple  (p.  89  ) ;  Another  Lead-boring  Insect 
(p.  90);  Icerija  purchasi  iu  Portugal  and  the  Azores  (p.  91);  A  Little- 
known  Tineid  Moth  of  Indoor  Habits  (p.  92) ;  Another  Moth  Likely  to 
be  Mistaken  for  Tinea  granella  (p.  93);  Parasites  of  Bean  and  Cowpea 
Weevils  (p.  94);  Injuvj^  by  the  Western  Flea-Beetle,  Ph\jllotreia  pusiUa 
Horn  (p.  94) ;  The  Windrow  Remedy  for  Blister  Beetles  (p.  95) ;  White 
Grubs  of  Allorhina  nitida  Invading  a  Cellar  (p.  95);  Reported  Damage 
by  the  Green  Plant-bug,  Liodenna  nhleri  Stal.  (p.  96) ;  On  the  Food  Hab- 
its of  the  Harlequin  Cabbage  Bug  (p.  96) ;  Food  Plants  of  the  "Cotton 
Stainer"'  (p.  97) ;  Collecting  Locust  Eggs  in  Morocco  (p.  98) ;  Poisoning 
Grasshoppers  in  Natal  (p.  98) ;  Collecting  Grasshoppers  in'^ew  Hamp- 
shire (p.  99). 

Notes  from  Correspoxdence 97 

3 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  present  bulletin  is  the  second  of  those  belonging  to  the  new 
series  which  contain  shorter  articles  and  notes;  in  fact,  such  material 
as  was  formerly  published  in  Insect  Life.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  Divi- 
sion to  present  in  this  form  the  results  of  the  observations  made  in  the 
office  which  are  not  sufficiently  extensive  upon  any  one  topic  to  form 
an  independent  and  complete  bulletin.  The  present  issue  contains  a 
number  of  articles  which  will  doubtless  be  found  of  wide  interest  and 
more  or  less  importance.  The  article  upon  the  peach  twig-borer,  by  Mr. 
Marlatt.  was  comi)leted  in  July,  and  was  presented  by  title  before  the 
meeting  of  the  Association  of  Economic  Entomologists  at  Detroit, 
Mich.,  in  August.  A  bulletin  by  Mr.  Cordley,  of  the  Oregon  Station, 
which  has  priority  of  publication,  was  ai^parently  prepared  simultane- 
ously with  this  article.  It  is  hoped  that  the  article  by  the  writer  on 
the  fig-eater,  or  green  June  beetle,  will  be  of  value  as  showing  the  harm- 
less character  of  the  larviie  of  this  insect,  which  have  generally  been 
supposed  to  be  plant  depredators  of  some  consequence.  The  series  of 
articles  by  Mr.  Chittenden  comprises  a  number  of  new  notes  upon  gar- 
den insects  which  have  resulted  from  a  series  of  careful  observations 
upon  insects  of  this  class.  Further  results  will  be  i)ublished  from  time 
to  time.  The  articles  by  Dr.  Zehntner,  of  Java,  arid  Professor  Matsu- 
mura,  of  Japan,  have  an  interest  to  American  economic  entomologists, 
not  only  from  the  general  interest  attaching  to  the  methods  of  work  in 
economic  entomology  by  trained  foreigners,  but  also  from  the  fact  that 
the  necessity  of  an  intimate  knowledge  of  foreign  species  which  maj^ 
at  any  time  be  introduced  into  our  territory,  is  every  day  becoming- 
more  evident. 

For  a  number  of  years  it  has  been  thought  very  desirable  to  have  an 
annual  exploration  made  of  the  territory  comprised  within  the  limits 
of  the  permanent  breeding  grounds  of  the  Eocky  Mountain  locust,  as 
well  as  the  adjoining  territory,  for  the  i^urpose  of  obtaining  exact 
knowledge  of  conditions  upon  which  might  be  based  some  intelligent 
idea  as  to  the  prospects  of  locust  abundance  in  ensuing  seasons.  These 
annual  trips  have  always  been  made  down  to  the  present  year  by  Prof. 
Lawrence  Bruner,  of  the  University  of  I^ebraska,  under  the  auspices 
of  this  Division.  Thus  Professor  Bruner's  reports  for  1895  and  189G 
were  published  in  Bulletin  ^o.  7  of  this  series,  in  1897  the  newspaper 
reports  and  the  office  correvspondeuce  indicated  a  greater  abundance  of 

5 


errasslio])pors  tlian  usual,  and  in  Professor  Brunor's  absence  in  South 
America  liis  assistant  and  former  companion  on  some  of  these  trips, 
Mr.  W.  1>.  Hunter,  also  of  tlie  University  of  Nebraska,  was  <omiDis- 
sioucd  to  undertake  the  work.  Mr.  Hunter's  report  is  j)ubbsl»ed  in 
full,  and  it  is  <;ratif\  inj^"  to  note  tliat  althou«;h  the  true  Western  migra- 
tory grasshopper  was,  owing  to  couditions  which  he  has  pointed  out, 
more  abundant  than  for  several  years  ])ast,  the  character  of  the  season 
of  1SI)7  was  such  as  to  suggest  the  piobability  that  tlie  numbers  of 
this  insect  will  be  much  less  during  the  summer  of  1898.  The  articles 
by  Mr.  Cociuillett  ])resent  synopses  of  the  si)ecies  of  the  insects  known 
as  black-Hies,  or  butfalo-gnats,  and  on  the  habits  of  the  injurious  tliesof 
the  families  Oscinida*  and  Agromyzida*,  and  will  have  an  interest  by 
no  means  limited  to  the  systematise  The  accurate  knowledge  gained 
from  the  view  of  the  habits  of  the  last-named  families  will  be  of  esi)e- 
cial  value  to  the  economic  worker  jKirticularly  interested  in  the  insect 
enemies  of  grains  and  grasses. 

L.  ().  li. 


SOME  MISCELLANEOUS  IIESIILTS  OF  THE  WOlUv  OF 
DIA ISION  OF  EN  rOMOLOGY. 


THE  PEACH  TWIG-BORER.' 

{Avarsia  lineateUa  Zell.) 
V.y  C.  L.  Maulatt. 
INTRODUCTION. 

Up  to  tlie  present  year  the  twig-borer  of  stoiie  fruits  and  the  crown- 
miner  of  the  strawberry  have  been  treated  as  the  same  insect,  as 
indicated  in  the  appended  bibliography  and  as  will  be  fnlly  explained 
later. 

Prior  to  the  observations  made  by  Mr.  E.  M.  Ebrhorn,  as  published 
by  Mr.  Alex.  Craw,  the  knowledge  of  the  twig-borer  was  confined  to 
the  fact  of  its  injury  to  peach  twigs,  either  in  terminals  before  the 
trees  leaved  out  in  the  spring,  as  described  by  Glover;  or  in  the  young 
shoots  and  later  in  the  ripening  fruit,  as  described  by  Professor  Com- 
stock  and  others.  What  was  supposed  to  be  the  same  insect  had  also 
been  observed  to  affect  the  crown  of  the  strawberry,  as  reported  by 
Mr.  William  Saunders  and  later  by  other  writers,  one  brood  wintering 
in  the  half-grown  larval  stage  in  the  crowns  and  a  second  brood  work- 
ing during  early  summer  in  the  young  shoots  and  runners. 

While  passing  through  California  in  the  fall  of  1896  the  writer  had 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  Mr.  Ehrhorn  and  examining  with  him  the  curi- 
ous hibernating  chambers  made  by  the  newly  hatched  larviii  of  this 
insect  in  the  crotches  of  the  trees  and  had  explained  the  habits  of  this 
insect  as  far  as  then  known  to  Mr.  Ehrhorn  and  substantially  as  recorded 
by  Mr.  Craw.  The  discovery  of  this  peculiar  hibernating  habit  of 
Anarsia  linealella  is  very  interesting  in  itself,  and  is  also  a  long  step 
toward  the  completion  of  our  knowledge  of  the  lifehistory  of  the  insect, 
and  is  especially  valuable  as  suggesting  better  means  tlian  any  hereto- 
fore known  of  preventing  damage  from  it. 

Arrangements  were  made  Avith  Mr.  Ehrhorn  at  the  time  to  supply  the 
Department  with  ample  material  of  the  j^oung  larva^  in  their  hiber- 
nating cells;  and,  throughout  the  winter  and  spring  of  189G-97,  Mr. 
Ehrhorn  was  good  enough  to  send  repeatedly  quantities  of  such  material 

'  Read  by  title  before  the  uhitb  annual  meeting  of  the  Association  of  Economic 
Entomologists,  August  13,  1897. 


8 

for  study  to  Wasliin^^toii.  Later  in  the  year,  aftor  the  hirva-  liad  abaii- 
(IoiuhI  tlieir  hil)eniatiii<^  chambers,  Mr.  I^lirh(>rii  supplied  us  with  i>artl3' 
developed  larva*  iu  the  terminals  of  the  twig:s,  and  still  later  pupa% 
to«rether  with  Held  notes  supplement iiijr  <»r  eonlirminjr  our  breeding: 
records. 

Some  of  the  twigs  containing  the  young  hibernating  larva*  were, 
during'  the  winter,  fastened  to  peach  trees  growing:  in  the  entomologi- 
v.\]  nursery  attached  to  the  insectary.  Most  of  tlie  larva*  in  these  twigs 
had  been  killed  by  a  predaceous  mite,  and  some  few,  perhaps,  died  as  a 
<'onse(juenco  of  the  dryin<i  up  of  the  twigs,  but  a  considerable  number 
of  them  wintered  safely  and  ultimately  entered  the  new  shoots  in  the 
early  spring  and  completed  their  development.  With  this  material  we 
were  enabled  to  study  their  habits  out  of  doors  under  natural  condi- 
tions, following  tlie  species  carefully  through  two  generations  and  into 
the  commencement  of  a  third,  as  will  be  detailed  below.  By  the  end 
of  August  our  working  stock  died  out  and  we  were  unable  to  secure 
fresh  supplies.  The  material  Avas  taken  care  of  and  notes  were  kept 
for  the  most  part  by  ]\Ir.  Theo.  Pergande,  to  whose  skill  and  care  is  due 
much  of  the  success  of  the  breeding  experiments. 

^Ir.  Craw's  report  of  the  facts  discovered  by  Mr.  Ehrhorn  is  in  the 
form  of  a  brief  note,  and  at  the  wish  of  Mr.  Ehrhorn  the  more  careful 
investigation  of  the  insect  herewith  i)resented  was  undertaken  by  this 
])ivision.  After  the  completion  of  the  MS.  of  this  paper  the  account 
of  this  insect  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Cordley  was  received  (Bui.  4."),  Oregon 
Exper.  Station  ' ),  which  is  chiefly  interesting  as  confirming  the  belief  that 
the  twig-borer  and  the  strawberry  crown-borer  are  probably  distinct 
insects.  ^ 

ORIGIN   AND   DISTRinrTION. 

The  twig-borer  is  apparently  an  Old  World  species,  and  i)robably  a 
very  ancient  enemy  of  the  peach,  with  little  doubt  coming  with  this 
fruit  from  eastern  Asia.  It  was  described  in  Europe  by  Zeller  in  1839 
and  in  this  country  by  Clemens,  as  Anarsia  pruinella,  in  18G0.  Clem- 
ens's  species  was  afterwards  shown  to  be  identical  with  the  European 
lincatclUt.  As  an  important  injurious  insect  in  this  country,  attention 
was  first  drawn  to  it  about  1872  by  both  Glover  and  Saunders,  the 
report  of  the  former  being  the  first  published.  Glover's  report  describes 
excessive  damage  by  it  as  a  twig  borer  in  young  peach  orchards  in 
^lai'vland,  and  Saunders's  report,  while  relating  cliiefly  to  marked 
injury  by  a  crown-borer  in  strawberry  beds  (now  known  to  be  a  different 
insect),  refers  also  to  injury  to  the  peach  twigs  in  Ontario.  Consider- 
able damage  from  the  true  twig-borer  was  reported  some  years  later 
by  Prof.  J.  IT.  Comstock  as  occurring  in  Virginia  and  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  in  connection  with  which  the  peculiar  fruit-inhabiting 


'The  8iil>8tanc«' of  this  pa])or,  with  sojiio  additions,  was  re]in1>li8hod  in  the  report 
of  the  ])ro<e<Mlin<rH  of  the  ninth  annnal  nieetinjj:  of  the  Association  of  Koononiir  Ento- 
mologists (Hul.  No.  {>.  u.  8..  I'.  S.  Dopt.  Agric.  Div.  Kntom.). 


0 

brood  is  first  recorded.  Later  the  insect  was  made  the  subjectt  of  iiii 
article  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Lintner,  in  whicli  it  is  re]K)rted  to  liave  occasioned 
dania«ie  to  ])eaches  in  several  localities  in  tlie  State  of  New  York.  We 
also  have  accounts  by  Prol".  ('.  \\  Kiley  of  injury  to  strawberry  plants 
in  Illinois,  referred  by  him  io  A  narsia  lineatellaj  smd  also  articles  on 
this  insect  particularly  as  a  strawberry  miner  by  Prof.  S.  A.  Forbes. 
Very  great  damage  to  peaches  in  Kent  and  Sussex  counties,  Del.,  is 
later  reported  by  Kiley  and  Howard. 

On  the  racitic  slope  record  is  made  of  injury  by  it  to  various  stone 
fruits  by  Mr.  Coquillett,  and  later  similar  damage  is  reported  in  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Knight,  of  Vancouver.  We  have  also  the  results  of  the 
investigations  by  Mr.  Ehrhorn  in  California,  reported  by  Mr.  Craw,  and 
the  recently  published  account  by  Mr.  Cordley  relative  to  the  insect  as 
affecting  peaches  and  prunes  in  Oregon,  and  also  in  strawberry  beds — a 
similar  but  undoubtedly  distinct  insect. 

In  addition  to  these  more  imx^ortant  published  accounts,  injury  from 
the  twig-borer  has  been  often  recognized  and  reported  in  later  years. 
Nearly  all  these  reports  refer  to  the  injury  to  twigs  of  stone  fruits  and 
very  few  to  damage  to  strawberries,  the  strawberry-infesting  insect 
either  being  more  rare  or  less  often  observed.  The  records  of  this 
Department  show  the  presence  of  the  twig-borer  in  at  least  twelve 
States,  and  give  a  range  which  indicates  that  it  is  practically  as  wide- 
spread in  this  country  as  is  the  culture  of  its  principal  food  plant. 

If  not  already  cosmopolitan  in  distribution  the  twig-borer  is  rapidly 
becoming  so,  and  will  probably  follow  the  peach  and  other  stone  fruits 
wherever  they  are  cultivated,  especially  as  its  peculiar  hibernating 
habit  greatly  fiicilitates  its  distribution  in  nursery  stock. 

It  is  at  times  a  very  injurious  insect,  and  is  often  notably  abundant 
and  destructive  in  such  important  peach  districts  as  those  of  Mary- 
land, Delaware,  and  Virginia.  In  California  and  elsewhere  on  the 
Pacific  slope  its  injuries  have  a  wider  range,  including,  as  indicated, 
the  apricot,  almond,  nectarine,  prune,  pear,  and  perhaps  other  fruits,  in 
addition  to  the  peach.  In  California  it  is  listed  as  one  of  the  three  or 
four  worst  Insect  pests  occurring  in  the  State.  In  Washington  as  many 
as  100  larvae,  or  instances  of  damage  to  as  many  twigs,  have  been 
counted  on  a  single  tree. 

HISTORY   AND   HABITS. 

The  fall  brood  of  larv.ne  discovered  by  Mr.  Ehrhorn  may  be  taken  as 
a  convenient  starting  point  in  the  life  history  of  the  twig-borer.  In 
the  fall,  as  reported  by  Mr.  Ehrhorn  (Craw),  they  appear  as  very  small 
larvjie,  living  and  working  in  the  spongy  bark  chiefly  at  the  crotches 
of  the  branches  of  the  peach,  and  he  surmises  that  they  are  from  eggs 
deposited  in  these  situations.  Here  the  larvi^  are  supi)osed  to  grow 
slowly  nntil  the  new  growth  appears  in  the  spring,  when  they  leave 
their  cells  in  the  bark  and  enter  the  new  shoots.  It  is  stated,  also, 
that  frequently  the  larvai  are  nearly  full  grown  when  they  attack  the 


10 


yoiin^  "iiowth.  The  later  brood  is  said  to  attack  the  fruit  near  the 
stems.  The  Ofciirreiice  of  the  hirvje  duriiifj  the  winter  in  the  situa- 
tions noted  is  also  thou«;lit  to  explain  the  tact  frecjuently  noted  that 
the  under  and  inside  twi^s,  l>ein<jf  the  more  accessible,  sutler  the  most, 
while  the  exterior  and  topmost  branches  escape. 

Our  later  studies  conlirm.  in  the  main,  Mr.  Khrhorn's  conclusions  as 
to  the  habits  of  the  larva*.  That  the  larv;e  make  any  essential  growth 
in  the  winter,  however,  is  probably  a  wrong  inference,  as  will  be  shown 
later,  and  the  nearly  full  ^^rown  larv:e  referred  to  were  doubtless  indi- 
viduals that  were  wandering  from  one  point  to  another,  and  had  merely 
reached  nearly  full  growth  before  they  were  observed. 

r>o(h  in  the  orchards  of  California  and  l)y  means  of  the  abundant 
material  received  at  this  ollice  we  have  been  enabled  to  make  a  careful 

study  of  the  hibernating  gal- 
leries or  chambers  of  the  young 
larva*.  These  occur  not  only  in 
the  crotches  of  the  smaller  and 
sometimes  quite  lar^e  branches, 
but  many  of  the  larva-  utilize  the 
roughened  bark  at  any  point. 
They  burrow  into  the  bark  for  a 
short  distance,  penetrating  little 
more  than  the  upper  superficial 
layer,  and  form  slightly  elongated 
clnnnbers  (tig.  1  <■),  which  arc 
lined  with  white  silk  and  the 
opening  afterwards  closed.  The 
location  of  the  larva*  may  be 
readily  lecognized  by  the  little 
masses  of  projecting  excrement  or  comminuted  bark  at  the  entrance  to 
the  burrows  (tig.  1  a,  h).  The  size  of  the  burrow  and  the  fact  of  its 
being  lined  with  silk  precludes  the  idea  that  the  larva^  feed  in  the  fall 
or  duiing  hibernation,  except  perhaps  in  the  mere  operation  of  exca- 
vating tlie  chamber. 

The  young  larva,  as  taken  from  the  burrow,  is  not  above  2  milli- 
meters long,  and  is  of  a  general  yellow  color,  with  the  head  and  cervical 
and  anal  plates  dark  brown,  almost  black  (tig.  1  <I). 

While  in  their  winter  quarters  the  larva*  are  subject  to  the  attacks 
of  })redaceons  mites,  and  many  of  them  are  destroyed  by  this  means, 
as  will  be  later  noted.  They  are  also  occasionally  parasitized  by  a 
chalcidid  tly. 

Harly  in  April  the  larva'  begin  to  abandon  their  hibernating  quarters 
and  attack  the  new  leaf  shoots,  but  some  individuals  were  found  in  the 
crotches  by  Mr.  Ehrlnnn  as  late  as  April  21.  The  danmge  becomes 
noticeable,  as  a  rule,  at  the  time  the  shoots  are  from  one-half  inch  to  2 
inches  in  hMigth.  or,  more  properly  speaking,  mere  clusters  of  newly 
exi>ande(l  lea\es. 


Fio.  1. — ,1  narisa  Uneatclla:  a.  twigof  poacli.  showiiij; 
iu  crotrli  minute  ina.sses  of  iliewed  bark  above 
larval  rlianibt'is;  b,  saiiso  inucli  en  large*  1 :  c,  a  lar- 
val eell  with  eontaiiied  larva,  iiiueli  enlarged:  tl, 
dorsal  view  of  young  larva,  more  enlarged  (<>rigi- 
nal). 


11 


Glover's  account  of  their  working  dowiiwanl  in  the  old  t  wios  from  the 
teiniiiial  buds  before  the  startinf>-  of  the  leaves  in  April  :ii)i)areiitly 
can  not  be  questioued,  but  seems  not  to  be  tlie  normal  course,  as  shown 
b}'  the  observations  since  made. 

In  our  experience,  the  hirva*  be^in  to  mi f> rate  only  after  the  new 
fidiage  has  be<;un  to  put  out,  and  they  attack  the  new  shoots  at  any 
point,  .lienerally,  however,  from  one-half  inch  to  an  inch  from  the  apex, 
eiiher  near  or  in  tlie  crotch  formed  by  the  leaf  petiole  and  the  stem. 
The  longest  burrow  observed  was  l.J  inches  and  the  shortest  one-fourth 
inch.  Sometimes  the  burrow  extends  about  one  eighth  inch  above  tlie 
the  entrance,  and  occasionally  the  larva'  simply  eat  into  the  shoot  as  far 
as  the  pith  and  then  go  elsewhere.  The  larva?  are  seemingly  restless 
and  not  easily  satisfied,  and  are  continually  moving  from  one  shoot  to 
another,  and  are  most  active  travelers.  In  this  way  a  single  larva  may 
destrvoy  or  injure  several  shoots 
before  reaching  maturity,  thus 
greatly  increasing  the  damage. 

Professor  Com  stock's  observa- 
tions on  the  habits  of  the  larvie  in 
the  young  shoots  are  slightly  at 
variance  with  the  above.  He  says 
the  larvje  puncture  the  shoots  at 
the  base,  eating  them  oft"  com- 
pletely, the  severed  twigs  remain- 
ing attached  to  the  branch  by  the 
gummy  substance  which  exudes 
from  the  wound.  This  particular 
form  of  injury  we  have  not  noted. 

When  working  in  the  succulent 
new  growth  the  larvie  bores  rather 
rapidly,  sufficiently  so  at  least  to 
excavate  a  burrow  two-thirds  of  its  length  in  an  hour.  The  length  of 
time  spent  by  the  hibernated  larva?  in  coming  to  full  growth  in  the 
green  sh.oots  is  comx^aratiAely  short,  not  exceeding  ten  to  fifteen  days. 

In  California  and  also  in  Washington  the  larvie  begin  transforming  to 
pupic  in  the  latter  part  of  Ainnl,  and  the  moths  of  the  first  brood  emerge 
throughout  May. 

The  adult  larva  tapers  strongly  toward  either  end,  and  attains  a 
length  of  three-eighths  to  a  half-inch,  or  slightly  more  when  in  motion. 
It  is  of  a  dull  reddish- brown  color,  the  reddish  color  predominating 
before  maturity  and  the  latter  after  maturity,  and  the  head,  and  the 
cervical  and  anal  shields  are  dark  brown  or  almost  black.  The  space 
between  the  segments  is  not-iceably  light  colored,  and  especially  between 
the  second  and  third  thoracic  segments.  The  hairs  are  long  and  spring 
singly  from  minute  tubercles.  Other  details  of  structural  features  are 
shown  in  the  illustration  (fig.  2  h). 

In  confinement  the  larva  on  reaching  full  growth  spins  a  scanty  web, 


Fig.  2. — Aiiarsia  lineatella:  a,  new  shoot  ofpeacli 
withering  from  attacks  of  larva> :  b,  larva  en- 
larged :  c,  pupa  enlarged  (original). 


12 


\^ 


i 


in  no  soiiso  a  cocoon,  in  tlie  leaves  and  rnbbish  abont  the  trees,  or  on 
tilt'  trees  in  the  dried  and  shriveled  leaves  of  the  injured  shoots,  or  it 
attaches  itself  exposed  on  tlie  t\vi«jjs  or  bark.  After  thus  securing^  itself 
the  larva  immediately  pupates,  ])ecominfc  a  ])rown,  rather  robust,  chry- 
salis (li^^  2.  c,  </).  in  midsummer  these  transformations  are  very  (piickly 
accomplished.  A  larva,  for  example,  which  webbed  up  June  29,  pupated 
July  1,  and  the  adult  emerged  July  S. 

Mr.  Khrhorn  states  that  it  is  very  diflicult  to  lind  the  i)upa*  in  orchards 
as  the  Iarv;e  hide  in  all  sorts  of  places,  as  in  crotches  of  the  branches, 
between  dried  leaves,  and  about  small  peaches  likely  to  drop  ott". 

The  chrysalis  stage  lasts  from  seven  to  ten  days,  and  the  moths  of  the 
tirst  brood  l)egin  to  appear  early  in  May  and  continue  to  emerge  through 

out  this  month  and  into  June  in  the 
latitude  of  NA'ashington. 

The  adult  moth  is  less  than  a  (piar- 
ter  of  an  inch  in  length,  expanding 
a  little  more  than  half  an  inch,  and 
is  of  a  beautiful  dark-gray  color, 
with  darker  spots  on  the  forewings, 
as  indicated  in  the  illustration 
(fig..'i).  It  is  a  handsome  insec't  and 
has  a  peculiar  way  of  resting  with 
its  ])alpi  bent  back  over  its  head  and 
its  antenna*  laid  closely  down  on 
the  wings.  The  description  of  the 
insect  by  Clemens  is  reproduced  : 

A.  f  pruniella. — Head  and  face  pale  <;ray; 
thorax  dark  f^ray.  l.aluial  palpi  dark  fus- 
cous exterually  and  pale  gray  at  the  end; 
terminal  Joint  jjray,  dusted  with  dark 
fuscous.  Antenna*  grayish  annulated  with 
dark  brown.  Forewings  gray,  du.sted 
Avith  blackish  brown.  Avith  a  few  blackish  brown  spots  along  the  oosta,  the  largest 
in  tlu^  middle,  and  short  blackish-brown  streaks  on  the  median  nervure,  subcostal, 
in  the  fold  and  one  or  two  at  the  tip  of  the  wing:  cilia  fuscous  gray.  Hind  wings 
fuscous  gray;  cilia  gray,  tinted  with  yellowish.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  I'hila.,  18G0, 
p.  !(>}).) 

The  egg-laying  habits  of  this  insect  up  to  this  time  not  having  been 
discovered  and  for  the  fall  brood  even  being  merely  a  mattei  of  con- 
jecture. s]>ecial  effort  was  made  to  get  the  facts  concerning  this  feature 
of  the  life  history.  A  number  of  moths  reared  in  the  Insectary  were 
confined  about  May  10  with  peach  twigs  eight  to  ten  inches  in  length, 
of  this  year's  growth.  The  material  was  unfortunately  not  examined 
for  too  long  a  time,  but  on  May  2S  it  was  found  that  many  eggs  had 
been  deposited  on  these  peach  twigs,  an  Qfn:^  having  been  placed  appar- 
ently Just  above  the  base  of  the  petiole  of  nearly  every  leaf.  When 
examined  most  of  the  euiis  had  hatched  and  the  larva*  had  entered  the 


F\(i.  2.— Ana I'xia  Hnentiila:  o,  moth  witli  spread 
•winjis:  h  ami  c.  same  witli  winys  clo-scd  illiis- 
tiatinji  ])ositi()ii  nonnaUy  as.siiine«l--all  iiuicli 
enlarged  (origijial). 


13 


twigs  at  or  near  the  crotch  lornicd  by  the  leiif  mid  twig,  tlie  point  of 
entrance  being  indicated  by  a  little  mass  of  browMi  excrement. 

The  egg  had  evidently  been  placed  in  the  protection  formed  by  tlie 
two  little  spnrs  at  the  base  of  the  petiole.  Subsecpiciitly  many  other 
eggs  were  obtained  from  other  moths,  and  they  were,  for  the  most  part, 
similarly  sitnated,  namely,  aronnd  the  base  of  the  leaves,  in  one 
instance  nine  eggs  were  dei)osited  aronnd  the  base  of  a  single  leaf,  six 
of  them  close  together  nnder  one  of  the  bracts  at  the  base  of  the  petiole 
and  three  in  the  depression  or  scar  left  by  the  second  bract,  which  had 
dropped. 

The  recently  deposited  eggs  are  white  in  color  and  iridescent,  but 
becoming  before  hatching  distinctly  orange.  They  measure  about  four- 
tenths  of  a  millimeter  in  length  by  two  tenths  of  a  millimeter  in  breadth, 
are  somewhat  ovoid,  and  are  lightly  attached  lengthwise  to  the  twig  by 
a  glue-like  material.  Under  a  high  power 
they  are  seen  to  be  coarsely  and  rather  regu- 
larly reticulated,  as  shown  in  the  illustration 
^fig.  4). 

In  confinement  the  moths  live  about  ten 
days  and  most  of  the  egg-laying  is  in  the  first 
half  of  this  period.  The  habits  above  de- 
scribed are  those  of  caged  moths,  but  it  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  in  a  state  of  nature 
the  eggs  are  deposited  in  much  the  same  way, 
and  this  is  rendered  almost  certain  by  the 
great  regularity  noted  in  the  manner  of  their 
deposition.  In  but  one  or  two  instances  were 
the  eggs  i:>laced  in  other  situations — one  being 
idaced  on  the  upper  surface  of  a  leaf  close  to 
the  midrib  and  two  together  placed  in  a  groove 
at  the  side  of  the  base  of  the  leaf. 

From  eggs  deposited  later  than  those  first 
mentioned,  viz,  about  June  3,larva^  appeared  June  15,  indicating  a  period 
of  about  twelve  days  between  the  laying  of  the  egg  and  its  hatching. 

Most  of  the  larvie  coming  from  the  first  lot  of  eggs  had  cast  one 
skin  when  discovered.  The  smallest  larvi^e  found  measured  about  1 
millimeter  in  length  and  were  of  a  very  pale  yellow  color,  with  the  head 
and  cervical  and  anal  plates  black  and  the  thoracic  legs  dusky.  They 
had  excavated  channels  somewhat  longer  than  themselves  and  about 
twice  as  broad  into  the  twigs,  the  entrance  being  marked  by  a  small 
mass  of  excrement.  By  June  3  most  of  these  larva3  had  abandoned 
their  original  burrows  and  were  constructing  new  ones  in  similar  situa- 
tions on  fresh  branches  of  the  peach,  with  which  they  were  from  time 
to  time  supplied.  This  they  continued  to  do,  viz,  to  construct  new 
burrows  every  few  days,  until  they  Avere  full  grown.  On  June  23,  of 
the  three  remaining  individuals  of  this  lot  of  larvae,  one  had  already 


Fig.  4. — Anarsia  Uneatella:  a,  egg ; 
h,  young  larva;  c,  eye;  d,  tho- 
racic leg  of  .same;  e,  anal  .seg- 
ment from  above— all  greatly 
enlarged  (original). 


14 

pupated  ill  a  lolded  leal  and  the  other  two  were  fully  grown  and  about 
ready  to  transform,  which  tliey  both  did  before  the  end  of  the  month. 

About  the  <Mid  of  .lune  Mr.  Ehrhoni  sent  us  some  ])eaches  said  to  be 
infest«'d  witii  \\w  second  brood  of  larva'.  Some  of  the  peaches  had 
been  Itorcd  into  a  little  way  near  the  stem  by  what  was  evidently,  from 
the  si/c  and  nature  of  the  burrows,  nearly  full-^m)wn  larva*  of  the  sec- 
ond brood.  One  of  these  was  found,  and  also  (»ne  i)Upa.  (Jn  further 
examination,  however,  it  was  discovered  that  the  larva-  of  what  is 
un<loubtedly  the  third  brood — the  second  of  the  summer  broods — were 
l)rescnt  in  numbers,  not  in  the  fruit,  but  in  the  short  stems  of  the  fruit 
which  at  this  season  are  green  and  somewhat  succulent.  In  these 
stems  they  had  made  their  little  elnnnbers  not  unlike  those  in  the  twigs 
above  described  or  those  in  the  crotches  in  the  fall,  exeei)t  that  they 
were  for  feeding  })uriK)ses  and  not  lined  with  silk,  as  are  the  latter. 
Others  were  also  found  at  the  base  of  the  leaf  stalks  just  as  we  had 
been  finding  them  in  our  breeding  cages. 

Wc  were  unable  to  carry  our  breeding-cage  material  farther  than  this 
point  at  Washington,  and  Mr.  Khrlioni  was  unable  to  furnish  additional 
supi)lies,  but  he  writes  that  he  found  the  minute  larva*  in  the  crotches 
of  the  trees  as  early  as  August  21.  It  would  seem  from  this  last  and 
very  important  observation  that  some,  at  least,  of  the  fourth  brood  of 
larva',  if  not  all  of  them,  go  into  winter  quarters  and  at  a  period  much 
earlier  than  would  have  been  supi)Osed. 

These  facts  go  a  long  way  toward  clearing  ui)  the  life  hist(uy  of  this 
insect,  and  indicate  a  much  more  uniform  habit  in  the  different  broo<ls 
than  has  hitherto  been  sui)posed. 

The  old  idea  that  this  insect  is  double-brooded,  the  tirst  brood  living 
in  the  twigs  and  the  second  brood  affecting  the  ripening  fruit,  must  be 
abandoned.  At  the  time  of  the  appearance  of  the  first  brood  of  moths 
during  the  month  of  May  the  fruit  of  the  peach  is  of  considerable  size, 
especially  by  the  end  of  the  month,  but  is  green,  hard,  and  densely 
hairy,  and  is  ])robably  rarely  if  ever  chosen  l)y  the  parent  iiKJths  as  a 
nidus  for  her  eggs.  The  m)rnial  locatitm  of  the  H'fig^  and  the  \Hnut  at 
's\iiich  larval  development  begins  is  indicated  by  the  foregoing  notes, 
and  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  but  that  at  all  seasons  of  the  year 
larva'  develop  in  the  new  growth,  entering  normally  at  the  axils  of  the 
leaves  or  in  the  stems  of  the  green  fruit.  In  these  situations  the  eggs 
are  i)laccd  and  the  young  larva*  construct  their  little  oval  chambers, 
which  they  abandon  from  time  to  time  to  make  new  ones,  rarely  doing 
enough  danmge  in  the  later  broods  at  any  one  point  to  be  noticeable. 
As  they  attain  larger  si/e  they  travel  more  and  often  bore  into  fruit  near 
the  stem,  where  the  greater  exudation  of  gum  and  more  serious  character 
of  the  injury  draw  attenti<>n  to  them.  In  the  case  of  the  burrows  in  the 
twigs  the  more  abundant  new  growth  and  more  mature  condition  of 
the  wood  render  tlie  injury  much  less  noticeable,  nor  are  the  results  of 
the  attacks  so  nuirked  as  in  tlit*  injury  to  the  new  growth  in  April. 


15 

Our  records  lor  tlu'  first  siumiier  brood  indicate  ;i  i)eriod  of  about  six 
weeks  as  necessary  for  its  complete  development.  The  time  necessary 
in  the  warmer  months  for  the  later  broods  is  probably  even  less,  and 
it  is  evident  that  tiiere  are  certainly  three  broods  of  larva*  annually,  if 
not  four. 

One  of  the  important  points  remaining  to  be  cleared  u\)  in  regard  to 
this  insect  is  whetlier  the  larva*  found  in  tlie  crotches  of  the  branches 
in  late  summer  and  fall  come  from  eggs  placed  in  these  situations  or  are 
migrants  from  some  other  parts  of  the  plant.  Mr.  Ehrliorn's  supposition 
that  the  eggs  were  placed  by  the  moth  where  the  larval  chain] )eis  are 
afterwards  found  is  borne  out  by  the  small  size  of  the  larva*,  which  are 
not  much  larger  than  when  newly  hatched.  The  comparatively  large 
size  of  the  e^g,  and  its  striking  appearance,  and  the  lack  of  any  attempt 
at  concealment  of  it  should  enable  one,  where  the  insect  is  abundant, 
to  clear  up  this  uncertain  feature  without  difliculty. 

THE   STRAAVBERRY   CROWN-3IINER   A   DISTINCT   INSECT. 

The  generally  held  belief  hitherto  that  the  lepidopterous  crown-miner 
of  the  strawberry  is  the  same  insect  as  the  twig-borer  of  the  peach  will 
have  to  be  abandoned.  If  there  were  no  other  evidence  on  which  to  base 
this  conclusion,  the  habits  of  the  twig-borer,  as  now  known,  through- 
out the  year  are  so  peculiar  and  distinctive  as  to  render  very  improb- 
able the  supjiosed  strawberry-infesting  habit,  and  this  first  led  to  my 
doubting  the  accuracy  of  the  latter.  This  doubt  became  a  certainty 
after  a  comparative  study  of  the  specimens  of  the  larvie  in  the  Dej^art- 
ment  collection  from  the  strawberry  and  from  the  twigs  of  stone  fruits, 
made  in  connection  with  an  examination  of  the  published  descrii)tions 
of  larva3  and  their  habits  from  both  sources.  The  notes  recently  pub- 
lished by  Cordley  are  in  the  main  also  confirmatory  of  this  conclusion. 

The  original  description  of  the  larvic  of  the  strawberry  crown -miner 
by  Mr.  Saunders  is  as  follows: 

Length,  0.42  inch.  Head  rather  small,  flattened,  bilob<-d,  x)ale  brownish-yellow, 
darker  in  color  about  the  mouth,  and  with  a  dark  brown  dot  on  each  side. 

The  body  above  is  semitransparent,  of  a  reddish  pink  color,  fading"  into  dull  yellow 
on  the  second  and  third  segments;  anterior  portion  of  second  segment  smooth  and 
horny  looking,  and  similar  in  color  to  head.  On  each  segment  are  a  few  shining 
reddish  dots — yellowish  on  the  anterior  segments — or  faintly  elevated  tubercles,  from 
each  of  Avhich  arises  a  single,  very  fine,  short  yellowish  hair,  invisible  without  a 
magnifying  power.  These  dots  are  arranged  in  imperfect  rows,  a  single  one  across 
the  third,  fourth,  and  terminal  segments,  and  a  more  or  less  perfect  double  row  on 
the  remaining  segments. 

The  under  surface  is  of  a  dull  whitish  color,  becoming  faintly  reddish  on  the  hinder 
segments,  with  a  few  shining  whitish  dots;  those  on  the  fifth,  sixth,  eleventh,  and 
twelfth  segments  being  arranged  in  transverse  rows,  in  continuation  of  those  above. 
Feet  and  prolegs  yellowish  white,  the  former  faintly  tipped  with  dark  brown.  It 
spins  a  slight  silken  thread,  by  means  of  which  it  can  suspend  itself  for  a  time  at 
a  short  distance  from  its  place  of  attachment. — (Ann.  Kept.  Ent.  Soc.  Ontario,  1872, 
p.  16.) 


16 

In  the  Department  collection  are  si>eciniens  of  the  larvu'of  the  straw- 
berry crownininer  t'roni  New  York  and  Oregon  which  agree  with  the 
description  above  qnoted  by  Sannders  of  the  larva*  stndied  by  him  in 
Ontario  and  are  totally  ditlVrent  from  all  the  trne  twig-borers  which  we 
have  had  from  varions  jiarts  of  the  conntry. 

The  larva*  of  tlie  twig-borer,  Anarnia  Uncatella,  as  desrribi*d  by 
(Jlover,  and  as  studied  by  Comstock  (as  shown  by  our  examination  of 
his  notes  and  specimens)  agree  with  each  other  and  with  the  other 
larva*  received  from  various  sourct*s  in  the  Department  collection,  and 
also  with  the  nmterial  obtained  from  the  twigs  ot  various  stone  fruits 
from  the  Pacific  Slope. 

(Jlemens's  brief  description  ol  the  larva*  taken  crawling  on  a  i>lum 
tree  corresponds  in  the  main  also  with  the  twig-borer  as  we  know  it, 
but  is  too  short  and  iiiii)erfcct  to  be  of  mncli  valiu*.  and  fails  to  mention 
till*  distinctive  anal  shield  unless  it  is  inclu(l(*(l  in  the  expression '"ter- 
minal i)rolegs  black."     He  says: 

The  l.irva  was  taken  .Iiiur  16,  full  «;rowii  and  al)out  to  trans  form  on  the  limbs  of 
tlir  i)huii.  Its  head  is  Idatk,  body  uniform  reddish-brown  with  imiistinct  pajnihr, 
each  ^ivin^  rise  to  a  hair,  and  witli  jialo  brown  pat<'he8  on  the  sides  of  the  thinl  and 
fourth  s«'<;ments;  sliield  and  terminal  i)role«j;s.  black.  One  specimen  had  s<-crett*d 
itself  under  a  turned-up  ]>ortion  of  the  old  bark  of  tlio  trunk.  The  cocoon  isexceed- 
inji^ly  sli^rht,  and  the  tail  of  the  ])upa  is  attached  to  a  little  button  of  silk.  Thepujia 
is  ovate,  abdomen  short  and  couiral,  smooth ;  color,  dark  reddish-brown.  I  do  not 
know  on  what  i)art  of  the  tree  the  larva  feeds. — (Troc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,Phila..  1S60, 
p.  170.) 

The  dark  color  of  the  body  generally  and  the  black  head,  thoracic 
shield,  and  anal  prolegs  (and  probably  anal  shield)  remove  Olemens's 
larva  absolutely  from  the  strawberry  crown-miner  and  ally  it  to  the 
twig-borer,  with  which  its  location  on  i)lum  <\\sn  places  it. 

All  the  evidence  bearing  on  this  matter  is  in  accord,  except  the  state- 
ment by  Mr.  Cordley  that  the  larva*  received  in  i)each  twigs  in  the 
spring  of  1896  from  various  localities  in  Oregon  agree  with  the  larvje 
found  by  him  in  strawberry  plants  later  in  the  same  year,  both  agree- 
ing with  Saunders's  description.  Curiously  enough,  however,  the  twig- 
boring  larva*  which  he  got  in  numbers  the  following  spring  (1897)  are 
of  the  normal  type  and  entirely  distinct  from  the  former,  which  would 
certainly  seem  to  throw  doubt  on  the  previous  statement,  and  particu- 
larly in  view  of  the  facts  we  have  already  given.' 

As  a  way  out  of  the  difficulty,  Mr.  Cordley  suggests  i)ossible  dimor- 
l)hism,  or  that  there  are  two  distinct  insects  involved,  and  that  the 
strawberry  crown-miner  may  occasionally  work  in  the  twigs  of  the 
peach.  That  this  last  suggestion  may  be  trm*  is  not  impossible,  but 
betbre  acceptance  needs  substantiation  by  additional  proof. 

At  any  rate,  the  true  larva  of  A,  lineatellay  viz,  the  twig-borer,  has 


'  In  his  subsequent  reproduction  of  his  notes  cm  this  insect  (note,  p.  10)  he  states 
that  none  of  the  larva*  first  mentioned  were  preserved,  and  that  he  relies  on  his 
recollection  of  the  matter  onlv. 


17 

not  been  taken  in  the  crown  of  the  stiiiwberry,  so  I'ar  us  the  avaihible 
records  and  material  indicate.  The  strawberry  crown-miner,  on  tlie 
other  hand,  may  be  more  gjeneral  in  feediii.^-  liabit,  bnt  in  the  matter  of 
rehitionship  to  the  former  does  not,  in  tlie  hirval  state,  show  any  close 
kinship,  and  more  resembles  a  tortricid  than  a  tineid  larva. 

The  moths  of  the  strawberry  crown  miner,  judging  from  tlie  fact  of 
their  being  generally  classed  with  lincatelhiy  must  be  very  similar  in 
appearance  to  the  latter  insect.  Mr.  Cordley  says,  however,  that  when 
alive  their  habits  are  not  at  all  alike,  although  as  dry,  mounted  objects 
they  are  very  ditticult  to  distinguish.  The  twig-borer  moths  are,  how- 
ever, slightly  larger  and  darker  coloied.     He  says: 

Those  reared  from  the  strawberry  erowus  crawl  down  amoug  the  viues,  even  into 
crevices  in  the  soil,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of  depositing  eggs  upon  the  crowns, 
and  when  disturbed  run  or  flutter  about  with  wings  half  spread.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  moths  of  the  twig  borer  invariably  take  an  elevated  position  in  the  breed- 
ing cage,  and  with  the  fore  part  of  the  body  slightly  raised  and 
the  labial  palpi  held  rigidly  upright  in  front  of  the  face  they 
present  a  very  characteristic  and  alert  appearance.  When  dis- 
turbed they  dart  rapidly  about,  suddenly  alighting  again  in  the 
same  characteristic  attitude  upon  another  portion  of  the  cage. — 
(Bull.  45,  Oregon  Agric.  Exp.  Sta.,  June,  1897,  p.  126.) 

We  have  evidently,  therefore,  a  str a wberiy  insect  en. 
tirely  distinct  from  the  old  Anarsia  lineatella  of  Europe 
and  this  country  which  infests  stone  fruits.  The  former 
seems  undescribed,  so  far  as  the  adult  is  concerned, 
although  its  habits  are  fairly  well  ascertained.  It  is 
highly  desirable,  therefore,  that  some  of  our  specialists 
in  microlepidoptera  should  give  it  a  good  descrii^tion  and  ^^^-  ^  7  '  "^^* 
name,  if  it  proves  not  to  have  been  hitherto  characterized,      enlarged  (origiiiai) 

NATURAL   PARASITES. 

That  this  insect  is  attacked  by  parasites  during  its  hibernating  period 
has  already  been  alluded  to,  and  in  fact,  of  the  material  received  from 
Mr.  Ehrhorn,  nearly  all  of  the  larvie  had  been  destroyed  by  a  minute 
predaceous  mite,  Pediciiloides  ventricosus  {^g.  5).  In  most  cases  nothing 
remained  of  the  larv.T  except  the  empty  head. 

Professor  Comstock  in  his  studies  of  the  peach  twig-borer  reared  a 
parasite  from  it  which  he  did  not  name,  but  which  was  later  described 
by  Dr.  L.  O.  Howard  as  Copidosoma  variegatum. 

A  new  i)arasite  of  Anarsia  was  obtained  from  the  material  in  tree 
crotches  submitted  by  Mr.  Ehrhorn,  which  Mr.  Ashmead  has  identified 
as  his  species,  Oxymorpha  livida.  The  specimens  reared  from  the  twig- 
borer  are  smaller  than  the  type,  but  the  sj^ecies  is  a  wide-spread  one 
and  quite  varmble  in  point  of  size. 

Of  these  i)arasites  in  California  the  greatest  benefit  is  derived  from 
the  mite,  which,  as  we  have  already  stated,  frequently  causes  the  death 
of  from  75  to  95  per  cent  of  the  young  larvie. 
11930— :N^o.  10 2 


IS 

KKMKDIKS   AND    PUEVKN TIVES. 

TIr*  roiinnon  met  hod  of  j)iocetliiie  a«j:aiii.st  this  insect,  aiul  tlie  one 
liitherto  ^t'lierally  siij^'^ested,  is  to  clij)  oft'  and  burn  the  witliering 
infested  tips  in  the  sprinj,^  as  soon  as  the  injury  is  noted.  Tlie  fore- 
going life  history  emphasizes  the  fact  that  it  is  necessary  to  do  this 
very  promptly,  for  the  larva*  remain  in  these  situations  a  very  short 
time,  and  early  in  ]May  tlie  larva*  will  ha\e  abandoned  tiieir  l)nrro\vs 
in  the  youn«^  shoots  to  transform,  often  elsewhere,  althou<;h  sonietimes 
]>npatin«;'  in  the  withered  leaves.  Tiie  presence  of  dyin^  terminals 
does  not  always  indicate  that  a  larsa  is  necessarily  piesent,  since  in 
many  instances  it  will  have  wandered  to  some  other  point.  With  large 
orchards  this  step  would  be  a  very  tedious  one  and  with  trees  of  any 
size  often  impracticable. 

The  knowledge  of  the  hibernating  habits  of  this  insect  indicates  a 
more  ettective  method  of  control,  namely,  the  one  already  recommended 
by  Mr.  Craw  on  the  strength  of  Mr.  r^hrhoriTs  observations.  This  is 
in  si)raying  the  trees  during  January  or  February  with  kerosene  emul- 
sion <u-  resin  wash,  or  some  similar  oily  preparation,  which  will  i»ene- 
trate  the  burrows  and  destroy  the  young  larva*. 

It  is  i^ossible  that  something  could  be  accomi)lished  by  an  arsenical 
si)ray  in  the  fall,  but  si)ecial  care  would  have  to  betaken  to  get  it  where 
the  eggs  are  ai)t  to  be  i)laced.  Many  of  the  larva*  might  thus  be 
l)oisoned  while  eating  through  the  bark  preliminary  to  the  construction 
of  their  hibernating  burrows.  To  eftect  anything  by  this  course  the 
poison  must  be  applied  early — that  is,  before  the  eggs  are  dei)o8ited — 
and  its  feasibility  will  depend  somewhat  on  the  conditions  of  the  trees 
and  the  danger  of  scalding  foliage. 

In  the  matter  of  spraying  with  i)()isons  for  this  insect  a  timely  sug- 
gestion is  made  by  Mr.  Cordley,  viz.,  to  spray  the  trees  with  paris 
green  just  when  the  leaf  buds  are  unfolding,  so  that  the  first  meal 
taken  by  the  larva*  in  the  spring  will  be  a  poisonous  one.  In  spraying 
the  young  tender  foliage  of  the  peach,  plum,  etc.,  a  strength  should  be 
used  not  greater  than  one  pound  of  the  poison  with  an  equal  amount  of 
lime  ill  200  gallons  of  water. 

mBLIOGRAPHY   OF   THE   PRINCIPAI.    WRITINGS. 

The  following  bibliography  of  this  insect  gives  the  i)rinci])al  writings 
but  omits  a  number  of  unimportant  references  which  merely  repeat  the 
common  information  relative  to  the  species.  Some  of  the  articles  cited, 
as  will  be  duly  indicated,  relate  in  i)art  at  least  to  a  distinct  insect,  viz, 
the  strawberry  crown-miner,  which  seems  to  be  undescribed. 

Zeller,  C.  p.— Isis,  1839,  p.  100. 

Contains  tlw  original  description  of  the  moth. 

Clemens,  Dr.  B.— Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci..  Phila.,  18()0.  p.  IGO. 

Describes  the  insect  as  Amtrsia  pniinclla  from  an  adult  reared  from  a  hirva 
taken  crawling  on  a  plum  tree. 


19 

Clemens,  Dr.  I>. — Tineina  of  Nortli  America,  Staintoii  edition,  l<S7li, 

p.  128.    Ibid.,  p.  30,  in  litt.  to  Staiiiton,  ideiitilied  with  .1.  Unr<(tella, 
Chambers,  V.  T. — Canadian  Entom()loj,nst,  Vol.  IV,  1872,  p.  208. 

Shows  the  identity  oi'  pru  in  ell  a  with  linvatcllu. 

Chambers,  V.  T.— Bui.  U.  S.  Geolog.  and  Geog.  Surv.  Terr.,  IV,  1878, 
pp.  112, 121). 

Givt'S  food  pLmts  and  references. 

Saunders,  W. — Ann.  Eep.  Eutom.  Soc.  Ontario,  1872,  ]).  15. 

Describes  injury  to  strawberry  caused  by  what  is  supposed  to  l)e  this  insect 
under  the  designation  the  strawberry  root  and  crown  borer;  hirv;e  stated  to  be 
80  abundant  in  phices  in  Ontario  as  to  almost  destroy  the  strawberry  beds  by 
eating  into  the  crown  of  the  plants  and  excavating  channels  and  cfiambers; 
said  to  bo  double  brooded,  the  tirst  brood  wintering  in  a  half-grown  state;  in  the 
crown  of  strawbeiTy,  while  the  second  brood  attacks  the  young  runners  soon 
alter  the  fruiting  seasou ;  also  reported  in  Ontario  to  infest  buds  and  twigs  of 
peach. 

Glover,  T. — Entomological  Record,  Monthly  liept.  U.  8.  Dept.  Agri- 
culture (July),  1872,  pp.  304-5. 

Figures  moth  and  larva  and  burrow  in  peach  twig;  said  to  be  very  trouble- 
some in  peach  orchards  of  Maryland  and  Virginia;  its  presence  first  noticed 
during  the  preceding  season;  twigs  described  as  injured  before  leaving,  in  some 
cases  all  of  the  young  twigs  killed  to  a  distance  downward  from  1  to  2|inch<'s,  the 
larvie  entering  near  the  terminal  bud;  suggests  pruning  and  burning  of  injured 
shoots  while  the  caterpillars  are  still  within  them. 

Glover,  T.— An.  Eept.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agriculture,  1872  (1873),  p.  112. 

Repeats  the  information  given  above. 

Comstock,  J.  H.— Proc.  West.  i?.  Y.  Hort.  Soc,  1878,  p.  13. 

Description  of  insect  and  injury;  gives  figures. 

Comstock,  J.  H. — Eept.  TJ.  S.  Dept.  Agriculture,  1879,  p.  2o6. 

Gives  in  brief  the  habits  of  the  insect;  states  that  it  attacks  the  newly 
expanded  twigs,  entering  them  at  the  base  and  eating  them  off  completely,  so 
that  the  branches  wither  and  are  held  to  the  old  wood  merely  by  the  gummy 
excretions;  in  some  cases  all  of  the  twigs  thus  destroyed;  describes  the  fact  of 
the  second  generation  developing  in  the  ripening  fruit,  in  which  larv.e  were 
found  in  Blackistone  Island,  Virginia,  throughout  the  season,  and  also  on  the 
grounds  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture;  the  larvu'  leaving  the  peach,  trans- 
form and  attach  to  the  outside  of  the  fruit,  making  no  cocoon;  the  twig-inhab- 
iting generation  said  to  mature  in  May  and  June,  and  the  fruit-inhabiting 
brood  in  the  latter  part  of  July  and  throughout  August. 

LiNTNER,  J.  A. — First  Au.  Eept.  N.  Y.  State  Entom.,  1882,  p.  151. 

Gives  bibliography  and  quotations  from  previous  writers,  describing  the 
insect  and  its  habits,  and  reports  it  to  occur  in  possibly  eight  localities  in  the 
State  of  New  York ;  figures  the  moth ;  refers  to  the  existence  of  a  parasite,  and 
details  remedies. 

FoRBE§,  S.  A.— Trans.  Miss.  Valley  Hort.  Soc,  1883,  Vol.  I. 

In  a  comprehensive  article,  entitled  ''Insects  affecting  the  straAvberry,"  the 
habits,  etc.,  of  the  supposed  Anarsia  lineatella  as  a  crown-miner  in  strawberry 
plants  are  given. 

Forbes,  S.  A.— 12tli  Eept.  St.  Eut.  Illinois,  1882  (1883),  p.  76. 

Reports  the  occurrence  in  Illinois  of  the  strawberry  cDown-miner,  which  is 
sujiposed  to  be  ^.  lincatella;  quotes  previous  literature  both  as  twig-borer  in 
peach  and  crown-miner  in  strawberry ;  suggests  remedies;  figures  larvae  from 
strawberry. 

EiLEY,  C.  v.— Prairie  Farmer,  Nov.  24,  1883. 

Refers  to  the  occurrence  of  the  larvae  in  strawberry  plants  in  Illinois. 


20 
KiLEY,  C.  v.,  aiul  Ilowaitl,  L.  ().— Insect  Life,  Vol.  I,  18.S8,  p.  196. 

(Jives  a  ;;euiTal  acoouiit  of  the  pcach-twi^  moth  iu  Delaware  aiul  Maryland, 
referring  to  a  n']»ort  of  excessive  damage  in  Kent  and  Snssex  counties*  Del. ; 
refers  to  tht^  literature  and  descrilu's  the  parasite  (Cnpidonoma  caiieyataiit  How- 
ard), referred  to  hut  not  named  in  Professor  Comstock's  report. 

CogUiLLETT,  D.  W.— Insect  Life,  Vol.  I\',  1892,  j).  200. 

iJescribcs  the  work  of  larva*,  supposed  to  V»e  of  this  insect,  in  California,  in 
prime,  peach,  apricot,  and  other  trees. 

KlLEV,  C.  v.,  and  Howard,  L.  O.— Insect  Lite,  Vol.  VI,  1894,  \).  373. 

Kept)rt  of  Mr.  C'hatlichl  Knight,  of  \':incouvcr,  that  this  insect  is  doing  cou- 
si«leral)le  <lamage  in  the  State  of  Washington — as  many  as  one  hundred  larvie 
heing  found  upon  a  single  :i-year  old  i)ruue  tree. 

Craw,  A.— r»ul.  (>7.  Calif.  State  Board  of  Hort.,  1S93  (1894),  p.  9. 

iiejtorts  the  results  of  investigations  made  by  Mr.  K.  M.  Khrhorn  in  Santa 
Clara  County,  Cal..  showing  that  tlie  iusect  winters  in  the  early  larval  stage  iu 
the  crotches  of  the  l)r:in<hes  of  the  trees  attacked;  eggs  of  the  last  br(»od  sup- 
j)osed  to  be  placed  iu  these  situ.it ions  in  the  fall,  and  the  l;irv;e  to  grow  very 
slowly  at  tlio  j)oint  indicated  until  the  new  leaf  growth  appears,  when  they 
leave  their  burrows  in  the  bark  and  enter  the  new  shoots,  the  later  brood  work- 
ing in  the  fruit  near  the  stem. 

CoRDLEY,  A.  1>. — Bilk  4."),  Oregon  Agr.  E.xper.  Station.  June,  1897, 

p.  123,  PI.  VII. 

Keports  extensive  injury  in  Oregon  in  lS9G-!>7  to  jaiine  and  p<'ach  twigs  in 
early  summer,  and  of  a  similar  larva  in  strawberry  beds  in  October,  the  larva* 
wintering  in  the  crowns  of  the  plants.  Gives  various  notes  on  larva-  and  habits 
of  living  moths,  which  seem  to  indicate  that  the  strawberry  insect  is  a  distinct 
species.     Describes  the  injury  and  suggests  reujcdies. 

CoRDLEY,  A.  r>. —  lUil.  9,  Div.  Entomology,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agriculture, 
pp.  71-75,  Oct.,  1897. 

Keproduces  the  above  in  <litferent  ft)rm.  adding  some  later  observations. 

THE  FIG-EATER.  OR  GREEN  JUNE  BEETLE. 

{AUurli'uia  iiilida  Linn.) 
liy   L.  O.  H()WAiu>. 

Few  insects  are  more  commonly  noticed  through  the  summer  months 
in  the  more  southern  United  States  than  the  beautiful  green  and  brown 
species  known  as  the  fig  eater,  or  June  beetle.  It  is  nearly  as  beautiful 
in  its  way  as  some  of  the  metallic  Brazilian  beetles  which  have  been 
used  in  jewelry,  and  is  a  favorite  plaything  with  children,  who  tie 
strings  to  the  body  and  let  the  beetles  tly  with  a  humming  noise,  which 
is  known  in  the  Southern  child's  vocabulary  as  '' juning"  (vefb  " to 
June  ").  Notwithstanding  its  beautiful  a])pcarance.  this  beetle  is  a  more 
or  less  serious  enemy  to  agriculture  and  horticulture  in  parts  of  the 
South,  and  has  been  suspected  to  be  a  much  more  serious  enemy  than 
it  really  is.  It  is  a  native  of  the  southern  and  central  i)ortions  of  the 
United  States,  and  has  not  been  found,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  north  of 
the  dividing  line  between  the  ui)per  austral  and  transition  life  zones. 

In  its  adult  condition  the  beetle  feeds  upon  ripe  figs.  ])eaches,  pears, 
]>liiiiis  and  small  fruits  such  as  raspberries  and  blackberries.     It  feeds 


21 


also,  occasionally,  on  ears  of  corn  before  tliey  liardfiii,  and  lias  also  been 
recorded  as  feedin<i-  n])on  the  sap  exnding-  from  the  wounds  in  the 
branches  of  trees.  Tlnit  it  does  not  (tonfme  itself  to  injured  twi^s  is 
shown  by  the  item  published  in  Insect  Life  (Vol.  IV,  p.  75),  in  which  it 
is  recorded  as  burrowing  into  the  tender  branches  of  oak  trees.  In  this 
case,  which  was  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  the  insects  were  very  numerous,  and 
caused  the  destruction  of  many  ycmng  branches  of  black  oak,  scrub 
oak,  and  post  oak.  A  beneficial  habit  was  noticed  by  Mr.W.  W.  Meech, 
the  well-known  quince  grower  of  Vineland,  X.  J.,  and  is  recorded  in 
Volume  I  (pp.  88-89),  Insect  Life.  Mr.  :\reecli  found  the  adult  beetles 
eating  the  fungus,  RwstcUa  aurantiaca,  upon  his  quince  trees.  They 
even  alighted  upon  the 
fungus  in  his  basket 
Avhen  he  was  gathering 
it  and  ate  it  greedily. 

The  closely  allied  spe- 
cies, AUorJiina  )iu(t((hilis, 
which  occurs  in  the  ex- 
treme southwestern  por- 
tionsof  the  Cnited  States, 
has  similar  habits  and  is 
even  more  noted  as  dam- 
aging fruit.  This  insect 
appears  after  the  first 
summer  rains  in  Arizona 
and  New  ]\Iexico  and 
immediately  seeks  the 
peach  orchards,  where  it 
selects  the  choicest  fruits 
and  ruins  them.  In  case 
there  are  no  ripening  peaches,  it  feeds  upon  grapes  and  even  upon 
growing  cornstalks,  disappearing  during  the  latter  part  of  August.  A 
correspondent,  Mr.  John  B.  Miano.  of  Tombstone.  Ariz.,  writing  to  the 
Department  in  September,  1889,  said  that  frequently  these  beetles  could 
be  noticed  by  thousands  and  millions  in  the  trees,  devouring  the  apri- 
cots, peaches,  figs,  prunes,  plums,  pears,  apples,  and  grapes. 

In  its  larval  condition  AUorliina  nifida  is  a  ^' white  grub,''  much 
resembling  the  common  white  grubs  of  the  northern  States,  which  are 
the  larviie  of  the  species  of  Lachnosterna,  a  genus  of  scarabieid  beetles 
belonging  to  quite  a  different  tribe  from  the  Allorhina.  These  white 
grubs  of  the  Allorhina  live  at  or  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and 
frequently  occur  in  countless  numbers  in  grass  lawns,  in  strawberry 
beds,  in  celery  beds,  and  in  fact  wherever  the  soil  is  very  rich  and  the 
vegetation  is  vigorous.  The  actual  amount  of  damage  done  by  these 
larv.T  is  problematical,  and,  in  fact,  it  is  even  problematical  whether 
they  normally  do  damage  at  all.  In  a  note  published  in  the  Canadian 
Entomologist  for  October,  1879,  the  writer  mentioned  the  fact  of  the 


Fig 


lllorhina  nitida:  a,  adult;  h,  larva;  c,  pupa  in  a  cut-open 
cell :  d,  pupa  cell — natural  size  (original. 


22 

extreino  abniidanco  of  these  larviv  in  the  fjrass  lawns  on  the  west  front  of 
the  Capitol  at  \\'ashin<,^ton,  but,  at  the  same  time,  showed  that  the  lawn 
was  so  j^reen  and  healtliy  in  ai)pearance  as  to  cause  admirinj;  comment. 
Tliis,  however,  was  after  a  rainy  summer.  In  .June,  1S8S,  these  larva* 
were  ai)i)arently  resjionsibh*  for  very  considerable  dama«::e  to  the  lawns 
on  the  east  front  of  the  Cajiitol.  The  {j^rass  turned  brown  and  the  larvie 
were  found  to  be  present  in  extraordinary  numbers.  This,  however, 
was  during  a  dry  month,  and  Laclinosterna  larva*  were  also  i)resent. 

In  1893  the  larva*  were  found  to  be  swarmin<;  in  choice  celery  beds 
near  N\'ashin<,^t()n.  The  only  vegetation  in  the  vicinity  of  tlie  beds  was 
the  celery  itself  and  there  had  been  no  grass  or  low  vegetation  upon  the 
field  during  the  previous  summer.  Observations  were  begun  in  October. 
A'ery  careful  examination  failed  to  show  any  damage  to  the  roots  of  the 
celery,  but  the  crop  was  slightly  damaged  by  the  carriage  of  dirt  into  the 
heart  by  the  larva;  and  by  their  acid  excrement  causing  rot.  During  the 
daytime  they  remained  constantly  under  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and 
there  was  abundant  evidence  that  they  come  out  to  the  surface  at  night 
and  even  crawl  up  the  plants  for  an  inch  or  so.  In  this  case,  as  in  all  the 
cases  which  we  have  investigated  in  which  these  larva*  were  more  than 
usually  abundant,  tlie  beds  were  heavily  mulched  with  large  masses  of 
rotting  straw  mixed  with  a  considerable  amount  of  stable  manure,  and 
the  extraordinary  Tiumber  of  the  larva*  seems  with  little  doubt  to  be 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  such  conditions  attract  the  beetles  and 
they  lay  their  eggs  under  such  circumstances.  The  writer  has  repeat- 
edly noticed  them  ovii)Ositing  in  the  earth  of  the  heavily  nninured 
llower  beds  on  the  grounds  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture at  Washington,  while  apparently  no  attempt  was  made  to  ovi- 
posit in  the  adjacent  lawns. 

Occasionally  a  great  abundance  of  larvji'  in  strawberry  beds  may  be 
accounted  for  in  the  same  vi^ny.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  no  direct 
observations  have  been  made  upon  the  feeding  of  this  larva.  Such 
observations,  however,  are  very  ditlicult  to  make.  Attemi)ts  have  heen 
made  with  the  aid  of  the  Comstock  root  cages,  but  without  result. 
Larva*  have  been  watched  repeatedly  for  more  or  less  extended  peri- 
ods, but  have  never  been  observed  to  feed.  The  direct  evidence  on 
this  point,  therefore,  is  very  meager,  and  their  normal  feeding  habits 
can  only  be  surmised,  although  this  surmise  may  be  made  with  a  con- 
siderable degree  of  positiveness. 

Every  writer  who  has  i)ublished  an  account  of  the  habits  of  this 
insect  has  assumed  that  the  larva  feeds  upon  the  living  roots  of  plants, 
])ut  the  only  exact  observation  on  record  is  that  mentioned  by  Kiley  in 
liulletin  Xo.  2.'J  of  the  Maryland  Agricultural  Exi)eriment  Station,  in 
which  he  says  that  in  18(18  in  his  breeding  cages  the  larva*  fed  greedily 
ui)on  roots  of  wheat  which  he  grew  for  them.  In  addition  to  the  con- 
trary evid(*nce  already  given.  Prof.  C.  H.  Tyler  Townsend  recorded  in 
Insect  Life  (Vol.  I  \\  ]».  -."),)  the  linding  of  Allorhiua  larva*  in  a  bare  s])ot 


23 

of  f2:roun(l  near  ]\rosilla,  New  Mexico,  on  whi{;h  not  a  i)article  of  ve^^e- 
tatioii  liad  «4T0wii  tor  three  years.  Sixteen  grnbs  were  seenred  in  a 
sqnare  foot  or  two  of  gronnd.  These  larva*  were  probably  .1.  mutuh'diH 
and  not  .1.  nllida.  Further,  the  feeding  of  the  larva'  upon  the  bran- 
arsenic  mash  and  the  eni('a(;y  of  this  remedy  against  them,  as  described 
later  under  the  section  on  remedies,  is  additional  evideiu^e  against  tlie 
normal  feeding  on  living  vegetation,  although  it  must  be  (;onfesse(l 
that  certain  plant-feeding  insects  will  also  feed  on  this  mash. 

In  the  ceUny  beds  above  referred  to  the  grubs  were  found  to  be  fully 
as  numerous  in  one  part  of  the  field  as  another,  while  the  direction  of 
the  burrows  had  no  reference  to  the  presence  or  absence  of  living 
vegetation.  The  numbers  of  the  insects  were  so  extraordinary  tliat 
had  they  been  vegetable  feeders  no  living  vegetation  could  have  existed 
on  the  field;  whereas,  in  point  of  fact,  no  damage  to  the  vegetation 
whatever,  such  as  would  be  produced  by  feeding  upon  the  roots,  could 
be  observed.  An  examination  of  the  contents  of  the  alimentary  canal 
also  at  once  directly  negatives  the  vegetable  feeding  habit.  The  food  is 
obviously  decaying  vegetation — soil  humus.  In  view  of  tlie  well-known 
habits  of  the  group  of  Scarab;eida',  to  which  Allorhina  belongs — namely, 
the  Cetonians,  all  of  the  species  of  which,  Avhose  habits  are  known, 
being  feeders  upon  decaying  vegetation  only,  it  seems  strange  that  the 
root  feeding  hypothesis  should  ever  have  been  adopted.  Probably  the 
basis  of  such  an  hypothesis  was  the  great  abundance  of  the  larva'  in 
the  soil  and  their  resemblance  to  Laclmosterna  larviie. 

That  these  larvie  may  occasionally  cut  oft'  a  plant  root,  or  that  they 
may,  as  stated  by  Riley,  when  in  confinement  occasionally  devour  the 
roots  of  plants,  is  possible.  They  have  reasonably  strong  jaws,  and,  as 
is  well  known,  the  normal  habits  of  an  insect  are  greatly  altered  in 
confinement.  It  is  well  known  in  Europe  that  the  larvjTj  >f  the  cock- 
chafer {Melolontha  vulgaris),  which  normally  feed  upon  th/roots  of  vege- 
tation, become  carnivorous  in  confinement — the  larger  larva'  feeding 
upon  the  smaller  ones.  Similar  observations  have  been  repeatedly 
made  with  the  Allorhina  in  the  course  of  the  rearing-cage  experiments 
at  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  by  Mr.  R.  S.  Lull,  when  engaged 
in  work  for  this  ofiPce  at  the  Maryland  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 
Mr.  Lull's  experiments  show  that  under  these  conditions  they  not  only 
feed  upon  one  another,  but  also  upon  earthworms,  which  were  placed 
in  the  jar  for  the  puri^ose  of  this  experiment.  Professor  Townsend  also 
has  recorded  in  the  article  above  mentioned  the  feeding  of  the  larv.xi 
of  Allorhina  mutabilis  upon  an  undetermined  elongate  white  larva  when 
left  over  night  together  in  a  tin  can. 

Taking  all  these  considerations  together,  it  is  probably  safe  to  say 
that  the  normal  food  of  the  Allorhina  larva  is  the  vegetable  mold  of  rich 
soils,  and  that  in  its  larval  stage  it  is  not  a  crop  pest. 

The  length  of  life  of  the  larva  is  unfortunately  a  matter  of  some 
doubt.     It  has  been  found  impossible,  in  spite  of  repeated  attempts,  to 


24 

cany  the  larva  tliruii^^h  tlie  entire  life.  In  late  autumn  the  majority  of 
the  larva*  wliich  may  be  t'ouud  appear  to  be  of  two  distinct  sizes,  yet 
at  this  time,  also,  a  certain  number  of  larva-  of  almost  every  size  will 
be  found.  The  i)revalence  of  the  two  sizes  mentioned  would  seem  to 
indicatr  tliat  the  si>ecies  occupies  two  years  in  its  larval  development, 
yet  Dr.  Kiley,  in  Bui.  23,  Maryland  Agricultural  Ivxperiment  Station, 
was  inclined  to  attribute  the  ditference  in  size  to  ditference  of  jieriod  of 
egg  laying  and  hatching  and  to  believe  that  the  insect  may  go  through 
all  these  transformations  in  a  single  year.  He  believed  that  the  eggs 
are  laid  during  any  of  the  summer  months,  and  often  during  Septem- 
ber. It  is  true  that  at  Washington  the  beetles  are  seen  Hying  from 
June  to  the  middle  of  September,  and  sometimes  even  later. 

Tiie  full  grown  larva,  which  has  been  carefully  described  by  Dr. 
Kileyon  jjage  78  of  the  bulletin  above  mentioned,  may  be  distinguished 
from  the  larva  of  Lachnosterna  by  the  possession  of  stiff  ambulatory 
bristles  on  its  back  and  by  the  darker,  more  horny,  and  more  closely 
punctured  head.  The  whole  bodv,  in  point  of  fact,  is  harder — it  is  not 
so  soft  and  delicate  as  that  of  the  Lachnosterna  larva.  Aside  from 
these  structural  peculiarities,  the  larva,  when  placed  upon  a  smooth 
surface,  crawls  upon  its  back  with  great  ease  and  rapidity.  The  Lach- 
nosterna larva,  when  so  placed,  struggles  awkwardly  about  and  rests 
upon  its  side.  The  Allorhina  larv^a,  however,  immediately  turns  ui)()n 
its  back,  straightens  its  body  out,  and  by  the  alternate  contraction  and 
expansion  of  the  body  segments  wriggles  rapidly  away  in  a  straight 
line.  Frequently,  on  the  Capitol  grounds,  the  larvir  are  driven  to  the 
surface  by  a  heavy  fall  of  rain,  struggle  out  of  the  lawn  upon  the 
smooth  concrete  walks,  and  are  noticed  scooting  about  on  their  backs 
in  such  numbers  that  the  sweepers  frequently  collect  them  almost  by 
the  bushel  in  a  morning.  This  habit  was  first  recorded  by  the  writer 
in  the  article  in  the  Canadian  Entomologist  above  cited. 

In  the  spring,  the  full-grown  larva  forms  for  itself  a  tough,  hard  cell 
of  earth,  in  which  it  changes  to  pupa,  remaining  in  the  pupal  stage 
about  a  month,  the  adults  issuing  in  May  and  June,  although  in  1881 
a  single  beetle  was  reared  in  the  fall — October  10.  The  following  year 
a  single  specimen  issued  as  earl 3'  as  ^larch  12.  The  cell  of  the  pupa  in 
this  latter  case  (the  one  figured)  was  oval  in  shape  and  was  com])osed 
of  the  sand  in  which  the  larva*  were  put  for  breeding  purposes.  It 
was  thin  shelled  and  quite  strongly  cemented  with  some  mucilaginous 
larval  secretion.  The  full-grown  larva,  the  adult  beetle,  the  pupa  cell, 
and  the  pupa  itself  are  well  shown  in  the  accompanying  figure. 

l^EMEDIES. 

Where  the  beetles  are  abundant  and  are  damaging  ripe  fruit  it  is  a 
comi)aratively  easy  matter  to  attract  them  in  numbers  to  a  little  heap 
of  s])oiled  fruit  upon  which  has  been  s]irinkled  Paris  green.  In  this  way 
many  may  be  killed.     An  experinjent  of  this  kind  was  first  tried  at  the 


25 

writer's  sujr^estioii  in  1S88  bj^  Dr.  V.  L.  Kilbouriie  at  the  10xi)eriinent 
Station  of  the  liiireau  of  Animal  Industry,  l>ennin<;s  Ivoad,  J)istri(ttof 
Columbia.  It  is  quite  likely,  however,  that  the  destruction  of  beetles 
in  this  way  is  generally  accomidishod  only  after  the  e^gs  have  been 
laid,  althou<iii  upon  this  i)oint  no  definite  observations  have  been  made. 
Against  tlie  larva'  in  the  ground,  successful  experiments  have  been 
made  with  the  use  of  diluted  kerosene  emulsion  on  a  large  scale.  In 
1888  such  an  experiment  was  made  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Alwood,  at  that  time 
an  assistant  in  this  office,  under  instructions  from  tlie  writer,  in  the 
Capitol  grounds  at  Washington.  The  standard  emulsion,  diluted  15 
times,  was  applied  by  the  barrelful,  and  subsequently  washed  down 
by  copious  api)lications  of  water.  The  experiment  was  perfectly  suc- 
cessful, and  a  full  account  of  it  will  be  found  in  Insect  Life  (Vol.  I, 
pp.  48-50). 

Further  experiments  along  this  same  line  were  made  in  1893  in  the 
1-acre  celery  field  of  Col.  Wright  Kives  at  Rives  Station,  Md.  The 
experiments  were  made  by  IMr.  Lull,  but  were  only  measurablj"  success- 
ful. The  application  of  a  standard  kerosene  emulsion  diluted  in  15 
parts  of  water  did  not  injure  the  celery  and  killed  the  larvf^  which  were 
at  or  near  the  surface  of  the  ground,  but  apparently  did  not  injure  in 
the  least  those  which  were  2  inches  or  more  beneath  the  surface.  Col- 
onel Rives  was  advised  by  the  writer  to  take  advantage  of  the  habit 
which  these  larvjp  seem  to  have  of  coming  to  the  surface  during  a  heavy 
rain  storm  by  flooding  his  field  (he  had  abundant  water  i^iped  to  the 
spot),  and  then  when  lie  had  brought  them  to  the  surface  in  this  vr^y  to 
treat  them  with  the  diluted  kerosene  emulsion.  There  can  be  no  dowbt 
of  the  success  of  this  method  had  it  been  tried,  but  for  some  reason  it 
was  not  tried.  Experimentally  and  on  a  small  scale  it  was  tried  by  Mr. 
Lull  with  success.  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith  (16th  An.  Rep.  K  J.  State  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.,  1895,  p.  511)  states  that  a  liberal  top  dressing  of  kainit  and  lime 
slacked  togetlier,  in  the  proportion  of  100  bushels  of  lime  to  1  ton  of 
kainit,  "  seems  to  have  answered  very  well  in  some  parts  of  ;N"ew  Jersey. 

*  *  *  It  has  been  found  satisfactory  wherever  used,  and  is  cer- 
tainly worthy  of  a  trial  wherever  these  insects  are  troublesome." 

In  189G  Colonel  Rives,  finding  the  larv?e  more  abundant  than  ever 
in  his  celery  beds,  tried  of  his  own  idea  a  modification  of  the  bran- 
arsenic  mash,  a  remedy  which  has  been  successful  against  grass- 
hoppers in  California  and  elsewhere  and  against  cutworms  in  different 
l^arts  of  the  country.  Had  Colonel  Rives  consulted  the  writer  before 
trying  this  remedy,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  he  would  have  been  told  that 
it  would  be  absolutely  inefficacious.  Nevertheless,  according  to  his 
statement,  it  was  a  jierfect  success.  The  following  statement  is  in  his 
own  words : 

''On  a  brick  floor  I  put  about  20  bushels  of  bran  and  spread  it  out 
thin.  I  took  a  watering  pot  and  filled  it  full  of  water  and  put  a  quan- 
tity of  common  molasses  in  it,  so  as  to  color  it  very  strongly  and  make 
the  water  very  sweet.     I  then  took  this  and  sprinkled  the  bran  very 


26 

tiMHouulily  on  (oi).  Then  1  turned  tlie  bran  over  and  sprinkled  it 
tli(»r.  ujilily  a;:ain,  and  continued  to  do  tliat,  spriiikliii^i  and  turninin 
until  the  l)ian  was  nn^ist  thron<»hout.  I  then  took  I'aris  <;reen  and 
s})rinUled  it  all  over  the  bran.  1  turned  that  over  and  spiinkled  another 
layer  of  i*aris  «,n'een,  and  kept  turniii^^  and  sprinklin<i  until  the  Taris 
•i'reen  was  thoroughly  incorporated  with  tiie  bran,  i  then  took  it  and 
spread  it  li<;htl\'  on  the  •ground  where  the  white  ^^rub  was,  and  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  days  i  niijiht  say  i  completely  eradicated  it/' 

NOTES  ON  CUCUMBER  BEETLES. 

Hy  F.  II.  ('nnTKNi»i:N. 

Durin^^  the  year  18!)7  very  fjeneral  coin])laint  was  received  at  this 
ollice  of  an  insect  that  destroyed  the  vines  of  (cucurbits  near  the  roots, 
and  in  most  instances  />/a/>/-o//Vvf  r/7^//rt,  the  striped  cucumber  beetle, 
was  res))onsible  for  a  major  i)ortion  of  the  injury.  This  species  was 
observed  in  its  dilferent  stages,  and  some  notes  were  made  on  its  habits 


Fifs 


■  Diahroticn  vittata  :  a,  bectlp:  b,  larva:  c,  pupa:  </,  anal  sefniiont.  from  sido:  all  enlarged  to 
same  «<'ale  exf^ept  rf.  which  ia  more  enlarged  (orijjinal). 


and  life  economy.  Diahrotica  I"? punctata.,  the  so-called  twelve-spotted 
cucumber  beetl<\  or  Southern  corn  root- worm,  also  came  under  observa- 
tion from  its  association  with  the  above-mentioned  species. 

All  of  the  observations  which  will  be  recorded  were  made  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  or  in  Maryland  near  the  District  border  line. 

TIIK    STKIPEU    CUCUMBER   BEETLE. 


(  liiahrotica  riilaia  Fab.) 

Ilccfut  i)ijury:  food  plants. — Injury  to  cucnmber,  squash,  and  cante- 
lou})!'  by  this  si)ecies  is  so  well  known  and  has  been  so  tj:eneral  in  Mary- 
land and  \'ir^inia  in  the  vicinity  of  the  District  of  (^olumbia  in  recent 
years  that  sjx'cial  mention  of  infested  localities  is  superlluous.  Indeed, 
this  cucnndKM-  beetle  is  rarely  absent  from  the  tarm  and  garden  over 
an  ;irea  which  (Mnbraces  nearly  our  whole  country,  and  is  by  far  more 


27 

common  and  more  destructive  tliau  any  otlitT  cucuibit  jx'st  witli  wliich 
we  have  to  deal. 

This  si)e(Mes  lirst  came  to  notice  in  the  first  week  of  July,  where 
cucumber  plants  were  seen  to  be  dyin^'  Just  before  the  rii)enin<'-  of  the 
fruit.  Larva'  were  taken  at  the  roots  of  infested  plants  and  reared 
to  the  adult.  September  20  beetles  were  so  numerous  on  the  fruit  of 
cucumber  as  to  spoil  it  for  market.  They  were  also  found  in  abundance 
cutting  holes  into  canteloupes,  and  during  the  last  week  of  that  month 
and  the  first  of  October  were  still  more  i)lentiful,  eating  numerous 
holes  in  the  foliage  of  late  watermelons  and  attacking  the  fruit  as  Avell, 
eating  off  the  rind  in  large  patches.  October  G  leaves  and  nearly  ripe 
pods  of  beans,  here  and  there  in  a  patcHi,  were  found  to  be  severely 
attacked  by  the  beetles.  They  Avould  congregate  in  numbers  upon  a 
single  leaf  or  pod,  or  u^jon  a  bunch  of  these,  with  the  result  that  the 
leaves  attacked  would  die  and  the  bean  pods  would  be  rendered  so 
unsightly  as  to  be  useless  for  the  market. 

A  considerable  proportion  of  the  beetles  found  at  this  last  date  had 
evidently  developed  within  a  week  or  two,  as  many  were  quite  soft  and 
delicate  and  not  fully  colored. 

Among  wild  plants  the  writer  has  for  years  noticed  the  partiality  of 
the  beetles  for  the  flowers  of  golden-rod  and  asters.  The  present 
autumn  beetles  were  observed  to  devour  the  colored  portions,  stamens, 
pistils,  and  ray  flowers  of  these  plants,  and  it  is  probable  that  they 
attack  several  other  composites  which  bloom  at  this  time. 

Dr.  Lintner  refers  to  instances  of  serious  damage  by  D.  viftata, 
reported  by  the  Pacific  Kural  Press  of  June  11,  1887,  to  pear,  quince, 
and  almonds  in  Byron,  Oal.,  but  it  seems  more  than  probable  that  the 
insect  concerned  in  this  injury  is  7).  trivittafa  Mann.,  which  does  great 
damage  to  the  buds  of  fruit  trees  in  California,  where  it  replaces  I). 
vittata. 

Injury  by  this  species,  as  is  well  known,  is  largely  due  to  the  work  of 
the  beetles  upon  young  plants,  which  they  often  damage  beyond  recov- 
ery soon  after,  and  even  before,  they  appear  above  ground.  Injury  by 
the  larva\,  the  writer  suspects,  is  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  serious  in  many 
cases,  especially  where  other  insects — such  as  the  vine-boring  Melittia 
larvae  in  the  stems,  or  the  squash  bug  or  plant-louse  on  the  foliage — 
are  also  at  work.  The  subterranean  habit  of  the  larvie  makes  it  certain 
that  they  are  more  often  than  not  at  the  roots  of  cucurbits  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  grower,  the  outward  manifestation  of  their  presence 
being  the  wilting  of  the  leaves  and  the  failure  of  the  plants  to  develop 
perfect  fruit. 

Judging  by  recent  observations  (F.  M.  Webster,  Ent.  News,  Vol. 
YII,  p.  139),  even  the  expedient  of  starting  cucurbits  in  greenhouses  is 
not  a  perfect  remedy  for  this  insect,  as  it  has  been  reported,  both  as 
larva  and  beetle,  as  destroying  cucumbers  in  greenhouses  in  midwinter 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


28 

As  no  very  i^ood  illustrr.tioii  of  tbo  larva  ami  ])n])a  of  this  species 
lias  heeii  puhlislied,  occasion  is  taken  to  present  the  ;icc()ini>an\  injj:  cnt 
of  the  insect  in  its  diHerent  stiiges,  together  with  brief  descriptions  of 
the  hirva  and  pni)a  to  facilitate  their  recognition.  A  few  short  notes 
are  also  adtled  on  the  life  history  of  the  species. 

Description^  life  history^  and  habits. — To  the  late  Dr.  Hy.  Shinier  and 
to  Dr.  Asa  J'itch  we  are  indebted  for  our  first  accounts  of  the  earlier 
stages  and  life  habits  of  this  insect.  Tliese  accounts  were  ]»ublished 
in  the  same  year,  18(>5,  but  that  of  Fitch,  which  appeared  in  his  Tenth 
Kew  York  Report  (pp.  1-8),  was  by  far  the  more  <'omplete. 

The  Qg^i:  does  not  ai)pear  to  have  been  observed,  but  from  analogy 
we  may  be  certain  that  it  resembles  that  of  other  Diabroticas. 

The  larva  shown  at  h,  fig.  7,  is  nearly  cylindrical,  narrowed  ante- 
riorly, somewhat  flattened  ventrally,  and  very  elongate,  its  luigth  when 
mature  about  ten  times  its  diameter.  Compared  with  />.  LJ punctata 
the  surface  is  much  less  strongly  wrinkled.  The 
general  color  is  milk  white,  the  head  and  anal  plate 
dark  brown  and  corneous,  the  thoracic  ph\te  lighter 
brown  and  somewhat  corneous;  the  tubercles  on  the 
dorsal  surface  of  the  body  are  more  or  less  distinctly 
marked  with  light  yellowish  brown;  the  six  thora- 
cic legs  are  infuscated,  and  the  exterior  margin  of 
the  coxa'  are  stronglj^  marked  with  black.  The 
head  and  thoracic  plate  and  legs  are  best  described 
by  the  accompanying  figures  (tig.  8,  a  and  h).  The 
anal  segment  with  its  retractile  proleg  is  shown 
in  i)rotile  at  d.  fig.  7.  It  terminates  in  two  minute, 
--     „    ,         ^  ^.  ,        acutelv   pointed,   upturned    teeth.     The  length   of 

Fig.  8.— Larvaof /)jrt?/ro-  .,171  » 

ticaviitata:  a,he:u\:b,    the  full-growu    larva   is   about  three  tenths  of  an 
leg-greatly  enlarged    i„^,|,  (7_S""n)  the  widtli  tliree-hutidredths  of  an  inch 

(original).  ^  '^ 

(0.7-0.8"""). 

The  pupa,  shown  at  c  (fig.  7),  is  of  nearly  the  same  color  as  the  larva, 
its  surface  is  spar.sely  beset  with  long  spine  like  hairs,  those  on  the 
dorsal  surfjice  arising  from  small,  but  prominent  piliferous  warts.  It 
is  not  imi)ossible  that  we  have  in  the  arrangement  of  these  hairs  good 
specific  (characters,  but  no  suitable  material  in  other  species  is  at  hand 
foi*  comparison.  The  apical  hooks  of  the  abdomen  are  slightly  more 
slender  and  elongate  than  these  a]>pendages  in  J).  l-J-punctata. 

The  larval  period  is  i)assed  in  the  earth,  at  the  base  of  the  stalks, 
and  larva'  are  often  found  within  the  steins  above  ground.  This  period, 
although  i)robably  never  observed,  has  been  stated  to  last  for  about  a 
month,  and  there  is  an  active  stage  of  this  duration  in  which  the  larva* 
working  in  numbers  have  ample  time  for  injuring  the  vines  When  full 
grown,  just  before  transformation,  the  larva  becomes  much  contracted, 
having  the  appearance  of  being  much  stouter,  as  it  is  then  only  about 
six  or  seven  times  as  h)ng  as  wide.     Larva*  observed   in  'Inly,  1897, 


29 

leiiuiiiied  for  three  days  in  this  contracted  and  curved  position,  and 
this  is  probably  about  tlie  usual  warm  weather  (piiesceiit  period  before 
assnnun.u"  the  pupal  condition. 

Shinier  states  that  the  insect  -'remains  in  the  pupa  state  about  two 
weeks."  This  period  will,  of  course,  vary  with  climate  and  season. 
Experiment  with  a  number  of  individuals  early  in  An<^ust  showed  this 
l)eriod  to  be  seven  days  iu  moderately  (tool  weather  (75^  to  85^  F.). 
The  pupa  during  normal  midsummer  weather  remains  entirely  white 
until  the  fourth  day,  but  on  the  fourth  day  before  transforming  to 
beetle  the  eyes  take  on  a  light-brownish  hue;  on  the  third  day  this 
becomes  dark  brown,  and  on  the  second  the  eyes  turn  nearly  black. 
On  this  second  day  also  the  tips  of  the  mandibles  acquire  a  reddish 
hue.  Even  Just  before  transformation  to  beetle  there  are  comparatively 
few  changes,  and  the  beetle  itself  when  first  transformed  is  mostly 
white,  the  thorax  showing  yellowish,  and  only  the  eyes,  anteiuue,  mouth- 
l)arts,  and  knees  and  tarsi  of  the  legs,  showing  infuscated. 

Transformation  to  pupa  takes  place  in  a  fairly  well-defined  i)upa 
case  in  the  earth,  in  which  the  insect  has  been  living  as  larva. 

One  beetle  was  observed  just  transformed  from  pupa  at  8  in  the 
morning,  but  early  on  the  following  morning,  it  was  found,  although  not 
fully  colored,  to  be  quite  active. 

The  dates  of  earliest  appearance  and  disappearance  of  an  insect  are 
often  difficult  of  ascertainment.  The  present  species  appears  in  the 
vicinity  of  Washington  some  time  in  Ai^ril,  and  was  last  seen  the  second 
week  of  October.  In  ordinary  weather  the  beetles  probably  remain 
in  the  field  considerably  later,  but  it  rained  almost  coni:inuously  for  the 
next  three  weeks  after  this  last  observation  and  no  beetles  could  be 
found  November  6. 

The  beetles  of  this  species  have  a  habit  of  hiding  under  clods  of  earth 
and  other  places  of  concealment.  Toward  the  end  of  August  beetles 
were  seen  to  congregate  in  numbers  under  the  stems,  prostrate  por- 
tions of  the  plants  and  withered  leaves  of  cucurbits,  often  as  many  as 
fifty  or  sixty  individuals  having  been  counted  about  a  single  i^lant, 
and  later  they  massed  themselves  upon  such  belated  melons  and  other 
cucurbit  fruit  as  could  be  found,  as  i:)reviously  narrated. 

The  entire  life  cycle  of  this  insect  has  evidently  never  been  ascer- 
tained. Considering  its  long  season,  and  tlie  fact  that  newly  trans- 
formed beetles  have  been  observed  from  the  second  week  of  July  till 
the  first  week  of  October,  it  is  safe  to  assume  the  existence  of  at  least 
three,  and  i)erhaps  four,  generations  annually  for  the  latitude  of  the 
District. 

A  dipterous  parasite  of  this  species  has  been  very  abundant  the 
present  season.  It  is  found  only  in  the  adult  beetles  and  has  been 
reared  from  July  to  September  in  this  latitude.  This  parasite,  now 
referred  to  Celatoria  diahrotica%  was  first  observed  by  Shimer  in  1870 
preying  upon  Diahrotica  vittata  Fab.,  and  an  account  of  it  was  given 


30 

in  \ Oliuiii'  \  of  the  Aineri<*an  Naturalist  (p.  -19),  where  it  is  described 
under  the  name  Tavhina  {Mehoiosphora)  didhrotica',  Celatoria  crawii 
Co(|.,  described  and  ll^urcd  from  specimens  reared  in  California  from 
l>uihr<ttivii  snror  (Insect  Life,  \'()1.  II,  pp.  2'SS-2'M)  is  a  synonym.  This 
l);irasitc  has  also  been  reared  IVoin  J),  rj-punvtata. 

TlIK   TWKLVE-SPOTTKl)    CUCUMBER    BEETLE   OB    SOUTHEKN    CORN 

KOOT-WURM. 

( lHahroticu  l:?-punrtaia  Ol.j 

Inci(U'ntaI  to  the  occurrence  of  this  species  with  the  jireceding  a  few 
observations  on  the  e^gs  and  eji^ij  period  and  on  the  habits  of  the  Insect 
were  made  and  will  be  mentioned. 

May  S,  two  females  were  noticed  unusually  distended  with  e^-gs,  and 
an  effort  was  consecpiently  made  to  ascertain  the  complement  that 
mi«;lit  be  laid.  The  lirst  individual  was  confined  in  a  vial  that  evening, 
and  the  following  morning  l.'>5  eggs  were  found,  mostly  in  large  masses 
and  evidently  laid  in  strings.  The  beetles  were  transferred  to  another 
vial,  and  by  May  13  had  deposited  1(5  more  eggs  in  one  mass.  The 
second  was  found  to  have  laid  105  eggs  May  13,  mostly  in  small  masses 
of  from  two  to  a  dozen  or  more,  and  a  few  days  later  1)7  more  were 
counted,  a  total  of  20li. 

Eggs  hatched  in  0  to  7  days  in  cool  weather  in  the  lirst  two  weeks  of 
May. 

It  may  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Pergande  has  been  i)laced  on  record 
(Insect  Life,  Vol.  IV,  p.  107)  as  authority  for  the  observation  that  the 
beetle  feeds  uj)on  the  leaves  cf  horse  nettle  {Solauum  (nrolinense).  Can 
it  be  possible  that  the  larva  also  feeds  upon  solanaceous  plants f  I 
hardly  believe  so.  and  yet  on  August  18  of  the  present  year  I  found  at 
Glen  Kcho,  Md.,  at  the  roots  of  a  plant  of  Jamestown  weed  {Datura 
stramonium)  a  pui>a  wliich,  to  my  surprise,  developed  into  this  species. 
The  weed  grew  in  a  field  of  corn,  and  it  would  seem  more  probable  that 
this  was  the  food  plant  of  this  larva  which  had  strayed  for  pupation. 

On  the  I'oth  of  August  Mr.  F.O.Pratt  found  in  the  suburbs  of  Wash- 
ington a  larva  of  this  species  in  the  soil  about  the  roots  of  the  pigweed, 
Amarantua  rctrofiexus.  No  corn  grew  in  the  vicinity,  and  if  this  larva 
had  not  fed  at  the  roots  of  the  Amarantus  it  had  probably  come  from 
some  wild  grass. 

The  larva'  or  ])upa*  of  this  beetle  have  been  taken  by  diflerent 
observers  about  the  roots  of  various  other  plants,  among  which  are 
recorded  wheat,  Pudbeckia,  and  the  sedges  ot  the  genera  Oyi)erus  and 
Sciipus.  The  sedges,  at  least,  appear  U)  be  natural  larval  food  plants, 
Imt  further  investigation  will  doubtless  prove  that  the  si)ecies  breeds 
on  vai  ions  plants  in  addition  to  the  Cyperacte  and  Gramineic.  It  has 
not  hecn  found  ui)on  cucumber  or  other  cucurbits  except  in  the  adult 
condition,  and  if  it  breeds  upon  these  plants  it  nuist  be  exceptional; 
hence  the  name  of  twelve-spotted  cucumber  beetle  should  give  way  to 
the  more  api)ropiiate  one  of  southern  corn  root-worm.     The  species  is 


31 

a  Northern  as  well  as  ISoiithern  one,  but  it  appears  U)  be  more  injurious 
to  eorn  in  the  South.  The  latter  name  serves  to  distinguish  it  from  its 
con<iener,  />.  loiif/icornis,  the  corn  root-worm  of  the  West  and  ZSorth. 

The  beetles  have  an  especial  fondness  for  beans  and  soy  beans,  and 
were  observed  the  past  year  feeding  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaves 
early  in  Septend)er.  They  make  many  small,  irregular  holes  in  a  leaf, 
not  at  all  like  those  of  the  bean  leaf-beetle,  which  are  large  and  rather 
regularly  rounded.  The  beetles  were  observed  feeding  upon  bean  pods 
in  the  same  manner  as  7).  vlttafa,  also  on  the  i)etals  and  other  i)ortions 
of  the  flowers  of  cultivated  Bidens  and  chrysanthemums  on  the  Depart- 
ment grounds.  They  were  noticeably  much  more  abundant  on  a  species 
of  Bidens  with  orange  raytlowers  than  upon  another  which  had  white 
ray  flowers. 

A  young  wheel-bug  {Prioniclus  cristatus  Linn.),  about  one-fourth 
grown,  was  observed  June  28  with  a  beetle  of  this  species  impaled  upon 
its  proboscis.  This  bug  evinces  no  partiality  for  beetles,  but  was  noticed 
in  the  last  week  of  October  feeding  upon  the  clover  leaf  weevil,  rhi/tono- 
mus  imnciatuii. 

I  have  been  much  interested  in  the  perusal  of  Mr.  F,  M.  Webster's 
article  on  the  genus  Diabrotica  published  in  the  Journal  of  the  New 
York  Entomological  Society  for  December,  1895;  but  when  the  subject 
of  the  probable  inedibility  of  Diabrotica  by  birds  was  raised,  without 
any  cause  being  assigned  for  this  apparent  protection  beyond  the  sup- 
})osed  ''warning''  coloration  of  these  beetles,  I  took  the  trouble  to 
inquire  into  the  matter  to  this  limited  extent.  The  beetles  have,  to  me, 
a  perceptible  odor,  similar  to  that  of  ladybirds,  but  so  faint  as  to 
hardly  seem  worth  considering  as  a  means  of  defense.  In  resi)ouse  to 
inquiry  of  my  neighbors,  Messrs.  Beal  and  Judd,  of  the  Division  of 
Biological  Survey  of  this  Department,  I  am  informed  that  from  exam- 
ination of  many  stomachs  it  has  been  ascertained  that  many  birds  feed, 
and  to  a  considerable  extent, on  both  IMahrotica  12punctata  and  vittata, 
preferably  upon  the  former.  This  preference  is  due,  evidently,  to  the 
larger  size  of  this  beetle,  its  more  conspicuous  coloration,  its  greater 
variety  of  food  plants,  and  its  habit  of  feeding  during  the  day  in  more 
exposed  situations. 

From  the  past  year's  observations  of  D.  12-iyunctata  it  is  obvious 
that  the  final  disappearance  of  the  beetle  is  limited  only  by  the  supply 
of  natural  food  remaining  for  it.  All  through  the  prolonged  rainy 
spell  which  lasted  from  the  latter  days  of  October  until  the  middle  of 
November  these  beetles  were  always  to  be  found  on  the  Department 
grounds,  and  in  numbers,  as  often  as  the  rain  ceased.  November  IG  the 
beetles  were  still  present  in  abundance  upon  the  flowers  of  Bidens, 
although  many  blossoms  had  wilted  and  died.  On  the  following  day 
the  weather  turned  much  colder,  the  plants  were  mowed  down,  and  no 
more  beetles  were  to  be  seen.  Obviously  this  is  one  of  our  latest 
beetles. 


32 

THE  SUGAR-CANE  BORERS  OF  JAVA.' 

By   l)r.   L.  Zi:iiMM:i:. 
DIATU^KA   STBIATALIS,    SNELLEN. 

The  female  of  Diatnvd  strUitnlis  lays  about  7.">  eg^s,  always  ten  to 
twenty  to<^etlu'r  and  arian^^ed  in  two  rows  (in  the  form  of  a  zi<?zag),  so 
that  tlu'  t'jijrs  partly  t-over  each  other.  The  e^<j;s  arc  stron«,dy  tiattened, 
lia\('  an  elliptical  form,  and,  as  a  rule,  are  fonnd  on  the  u[)per  side  of 
the  leaves.  Freshly  laid  they  are  ji^reenish  white  or  j^^ray;  afterwards 
they  become  oran«^e  or  red.  Len«^th  of  an  e.ii<4  1-^  to  1.8""",  breadth 
O.S.")  to  i.r 

The  y(mng  eaterpillars  are  li  to  li.25"""  Ion  "jr.  They  go  between  the 
yonnji'  leaves,  which  are  not  yet  unfolded.  There  they  eat  oft"  the  tissue 
of  the  leaves  in  spots,  so  that  the  epidermis  of  one  side  only  remains. 
The  presence  of  the  caterpillars  is  indicated  by  their  excrement  as  well 


Fui.9.—I>iatr(^a  striatalit:  egfr  masses  in  /dtic  ou  cano,  at  left— uaturnl  size:  larva,  at  right — enlarged 

(after  Zelintiu-r). 

as  by  the  damaged  leaves.  After  having  changed  their  skins  four  times, 
the  larva'  penetrate  the  stalk  at  dift'erent  places,  and  commence  to 
tunnel  in  an  irregular  manner.  One  often  linds  as  many  as  ten  larva' 
in  one  stalk.  J)uring  the  burrowing  in  the  stalk  the  larva  changes  the 
skin  once  more  and  thereafter  transforms  to  the  pnpa,  which  lies  as  a 
rule  near  the  surface  of  the  stalk  or  between  the  stalk  and  the  sheaths 
of  old  leaves. 

The  whole  development  is  accomplished  within  the  toUowing  periods: 
Development  of  the  agg,  8  daysj  development  of  the  larva,  37  to  40 


'This  article  is  a  brief  rtsuinr  of  the  results  of  some  of  the  important  ami  inter- 
esting studies  which  Dr.  Zehiitner  has  been  making  at  the  experiment  station  at 
Pasorroean,  .lava,  during  the  jiast  few  years.  The  results  of  his  work  are  pub- 
lished in  the  numliers  of  the  "  Mededeelingeu  van  het  Pjoelstatiou  *Oost  .lava, 
from  which  publication  the  accompanying  illnstrati<»ns  have  been  copied. 
English  abstract  he  projiared  at  our  re<iuest. — L.  O.  II. 


Ihe 


33 

days;   (levelopiiu'iit  of  tlu^  i)iii)a,  12  days;   total,  57  to  (>()  days,  or  i  wo 
months. 

A  i'ow  days  after  liavin^-  left  tlio  pupa,  tlie  iiiui^o  is  ready  lor  ovipo 
sitioii. 

Often  the  caterpillars,  Avhich  have  Just  left  tlie  ejjj's,  let  themselves 
down  by  means  of  a.  lon*^-  thread,  in  order  to  reaeh  other  leaves.  Dur- 
ing- the  suspension  they  are  easily  carried  oil"  by  the  wind  and  tiius 
become  widely  spread. 

Fortunately,  very  often  the  eo<.s  are  infested  by  two  parasites,  viz, 
Ccraphron  hvncficicns  Zehut.,  and  Chaiosticha  nana  Zehnt.  The  infested 
egos  turn  to  black  or  dark  brown.  Besides,  the  eggs  are  destroyed  by 
the  larva'  of  a  species  of  Obrysopa,  which  sucks  them  out. 


SCIRPOPHAGA   INTACTA,    SNELL. 

The  female  of  Scirpophaga  intacta  lays  her  eggs  in  little  clusters,  and 
as  a  rule  on  the  underside  of  the  leaves.  These  egg-clusters  are  from 
(i  to  10"""  long,  composed  of  15  to  30 
eggs,  and  are  covered  with  abundant 
cinnamon  colored  hairs,  so  that  the  eggs 
themselves  cannot  be  seen.  The  total 
number  of  eggs  produced  by  one  female 
is  00  to  70. 

The  freshly  hatched  cater i)illars  are 
dark  browu  in  color  and  are  about  2.5"'"' 
long.  They  penetrate  the  shoots  from 
above  (say  a  single  larva  in  each  shoot), 
following  in  the  beginning  the  midrib 
of  the  young  unfolded  leaves.  Farther 
beneath  they  eat  completely  out  the 
heart  of  the  shoot.  Finally,  they  attack 
the  stalk,  making  a  straight  descending 
gallery  or  tunnel,  which  varies  in  length 
according  to  the  individuals.  When  the 
larva  is  nearly  full  grown  the  gallery  is 
bored  horizontally  outward  by  means  of 
a  gentle  curve.  Then  the  dust  is  re- 
moved from  the  lower  i^art  of  the  gallery 
(i.e.,  pushed  upward),  and  the  gallery  is 
closed  before  and  behind  the  larva  with  three  or  four  transverse  silken 
membranes  spun  by  the  larva.  Thereupon  this  latter  transforms  to 
pupa. 

The  whole  development  is  accomplished  within  the  following  periods: 
Egg  state,  8  to  9  days;  larval  state,  32  to  35  days;  pupal  state,  female, 
8  to  10  daysj  male,  10  to  12  days;  total,  female,  48  to  54  days;  male, 
50  to  56  days. 

In  penetrating  the  stock  the  larva  destroys  always  the  growing  veg- 
11930— No.  10 3 


leuf- 


FlG.  10.— Scirpoi^hafja    intacta: 
grown    larva   at    left  — enlarged  ; 
Ijlatle  with  egg-mass  at  right — natural 
size  (after  Zehntner), 


3  1 

etati«»ii  point.'  As  a  result  the  stalk  jjrows  no  further,  the  youiig^est 
interuoihs  remain  shoit.  and,  in  consequence,  their  leaves  stand  ch)se 
to^i'ther,  tbrininj;  a  sort  of  Ian.  Moreover,  four  to  six  eyes  of  the  stalk 
j^row  out.  <>fteii  these  youn*.!  lateral  shoots  all  die,  as  well  as  the  old 
stalk. 

The  e^<4s  an*  \  ery  otten  infested  by  Crrttjthroti  hmcficit  its  /ehnt. 

<1II1.<)    INFISCATKLLUS,    SNELL. 

As  a  rule  this  borj-r  lays  its  e^ji's  in  <'lusters  on  the  under  surface  and 
near  tlie  base  of  the  leaves,  althou<,^h  sometimes   they  are  laid  on  the 
upper  side  and  then  almost  always  just  on  the  midrib.     They  resemble 
very  much  those  of  hiatraa  str'mlalis,  but  are  a  little  smaller  and  ordi- 
narily arran«^ed  in  three  to  live  rows.     ()tten   one  linds 
ob  to  To  toji:etber,  and  the  total  number  ])roduced  ])y  one 
fennile  is  from  1^)0  to  -40. 

The  larva'  hatch  after  ei^ht  days  and  are  about  li""" 
lon^.  They,  as  well  as  the  full-^nown  larva*,  are  li<:;:ht  yel- 
low and  have  live  reddish  b)n{^itudinal  stripes  on  the  back. 
(In  I>i((tr<t((  stri((t((lis  tlie  freshly  hatched  Iar\a*  have, 
besides  other  diflerences,  a  transrer.se  strii)e  on  each  ab- 
dominal se«;ment  and  the  full-^rown  larva  has  but  four 
hn((/itu(Jinal  stripes,  tin*  median  oneof  Chilo  being  absent. 
The  young"  larva*  penetrate  in  and  between  the  sheaths 
of  the  leaves  of  young  shoots.  There  they  rest  until  they 
have  molted  four  times  and  then  i)enetrate  transversely 
and  a  little  al>ove  the  vegetation  point.  Tpon  reaching 
the  center  the  tunnel  is  directed  in  a  straight  line  down- 
ward. Mere  the  heart  of  the  siioot  is  eaten  out,  and  linally 
the  stalk  is  attacked  and  its  vegetation  point  destroyed, 
so  that  the  growth  of  the  shoot  becomes  impossible.  In 
one  shoot  one  linds  often  three  to  live  borers. 

When  the  larva  is  full  grown  it  makes  a  horizontal 
gallery  above  the  vegetation  point,  /.  e.  through  the  sheaths  of  the 
leaves.  The  dust  is  then  removed — partly  downward.  i)artly  ui)ward. 
Thereupon  the  larva  i)upates  and  the  i)upa  lies  anywhere  in  the  ver 
tical  gallery  in  which  it  is  able  to  move  itself. 

The  whole  develoi)ment  is  accomplished  within  the  following  ])eriods: 
yj^^ig  state,  7  to  S  days;  larval  state,  .'>S  to  4i*  days:  ])npal  state.  7  to  8 
days;  total,  51*  to  oS  days. 

(JIJAIMIOLITIIA    SCIIISTArKANA,    SNELL. 


Yic. U.-Chilo  in 
/imcateUim,  lull 
Krowii  larva  — 
I'lilargi'tl  (aftrr 
Zfhiitnt'i-). 


This  insect  lays  its  eggs  in  a  single  or  double  row  (Ui  the  leaves  and 
on  the  sheaths  iA'  young  shoots.  They  also  much  resemble  those  of 
JJiatraa  striatalis,  but  are  considerably  smaller  and  very  diflicult  to 

'  hi  (lennaii:   \'«-i;etati()nsimnkt.  Ve.uetationsspit/.e. 


c55 


lliid.     Tlicir  UMiiith  is  l.li.") mikI  l)nM(ltli  (»..S()"' 

t'>  170  c-iis. 

Tlie  freshly  luitched  larvae  are  <^rayisli  yellow,  witli  a 


One  li'Miah'  laws  ITiO 


attuned,  l)la(tk 


soinewliat  irrei>iilar  loiiiilLiidiiial  liylit- 


lowii  lar\  a  is  unifonnly  grayish  with 


ish  head  and  i)r()n()tinn,  and  a 
red  stripe  on  the  back.  Tlie  liil 
a  yellow  head. 

Tlic  yonnii"  huva'  penetrate  at  the  base  of  tlie  shoots  in  the  (piite 
yonn<»-  stalks  and  bore  an  ascendinii'  soniewliat  si)iral-like  gallery. 
Thereby  they  injnre  the  insi'rtions  of  the  leaves,  and,  as  a  rnle,  destroy 
the  vegetation  jioint.  Otten  the  tunnel  is  (tontinued  in  the  youngest 
leaves  of  the  shoots.     In  each  shoot  on(^  linds  ordinarily  but  one  borer. 

When  the  larva  is  full  grown  it  makes  a  hori- 
zontal gallery  through  the  sheaths  of  the  leaves. 
The  oi)ening  is  closed  by  dust  from  the  boring, 
ti  cocoon  is  made  of  the  same  material,  and 
then  the  larva  transforms  to  chrysalis. 

The  whole  development  of  this  borer 
complished  within  seven  or  eight  weeks. 


IS  ac- 


IJEMKDIES   FOR    THESE   IJOKEKS. 


-.<i^rj 


Fig.  12.— Grapholitha  schi.stace- 
aita:  full-grown larvaatlel't — 
enlar<iC(l;  head  of  larva  at 
right  — more  enlarged  (after 
Zelmtner). 


As  to  the  remedies  for  these  four  coniinoii 
Javanese  borers,  it  is  important  to  state  that  in 
the  above  recorded  notes  nnu^li  attention  is  i>aid 
for  the  first  time  to  the  eggs  of  these  insects. 
The  knowledge  of  the  egg's  i)ositiou  is  of  great 
interest  and  it  enables  us  to  subdivide  the 
borers  into  two  groui)S,  viz.  Sciri)ophaga  and 
Diatra'a,  on  the  one  side,  and  Chilo  and  (Irapho- 
litha  on  the  other. 

The  eggs  of  the  borers  of  the  first  group  are 
easy  to  be  found  and  collected,  while  in  the  second  group  they  aie 
found  but  occasionally  with  Chilo,  and  only  by  a  very  careful  exami- 
nation of  the  cane  wdth  Grapholitha. 

Moreover,  the  subdivision  above  mentioned  agrees  in  some  other 
features  of  the  life-history  of  the  borers,  viz,  Scirpoi)haga  and  Diatra^a 
attack  the  cane  in  about  three  months  after  the  seeds  have  been  planted, 
and.  the  damage  by  the  young  larvie  is  to  be  seen  o)i  the  leaves  Jong 
he/ore  they  penetrate  the  staU:s.  ('hilo  and  Grapholitha,  however,  attack 
the  young  plantation  in  one  month  after  phmting.  They  damage  the 
very  young  shoots  by  penetrating  either  directly  into  the  stalk  (Grapho- 
litha), or  between  the  leaf  sheath  and  the  stalk  (Chilo),  and,  as  a  rule, 
the  attack  is  only  visible  after  the  young  stalks  have  already  lost  their 
growing  point. 

In  consequence, the  remedial  measures  should  be  arranged  as  follows: 

About  one  month  after  planting,  the  plantation  should  be  examined 
carefully  and  all  shoots  attacked  by  borers  should  be  cut  off.     It  is 


3(1 

very  necessary  t^i  cut  the  shoots  down  to  the  «::rouiid  (next  to  the  seed) 
in  order  to  be  sure  to  remove  the  borer.  The  infested  shoots  eau  very 
easily  l)e  seen  from  a  distance,  tlieir  youn;;.  unfohled  leaves  beeomin^^ 
dry  from  one  day  to  the  following,  and  the  cane  beinj^:  yet  small. 

If  this  examination  is  repeate<l  two  or  three  times  a  week  for  about 
two  months,  the  Thilo  and  (Irapholitha  will  l)e  e\teriniiiat«'d  for  the 
most  part,  and  then  it  is  just  time  to  pay  most  attention  to  the  Scir- 
I)ophaga  and  Diatraa.  With  these  borers,  above  all,  the  eg</s  ou(fht  to 
hr  colhvtat.  'J'his  is  not  so  dithcult  as  it  mi<::ht  seem  at  first  view.  The 
methiMl  bein«;  once  installed,  we  are  sure  that  the  b«>rers  of  the  first 
g:roui>  can  be  exterminated  for  tlic  most  i)art  in  this  way.  In  case  the 
youn^  lar\  a-  are  already  hatched,  we  renuMnlx-r  that  they  rest  for  a 
time  between  the  youn^.  unfolded  leavi-s.  and  if  the  attack  is  observed 
in  time  tlie  borers  can  l)e  remoNtcl  ])y  cutting  off  the  J'ounj^  leaves 
only,  ir  I  he  larva-  iiave  alrea<ly  reached  the  stalks,  these  must  also 
be  cut  otV. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  imi)ortance  to  be'i:in  the  ren)cdial  measures  in 
the  (|uite  youn«;  plantation  and  to  execute  them  with  the  greatest 
energy,  so  as  to  render  unnecessary  further  work  in  the  half-grown  or 
still  older  cane.  In  this  way  the  attack  of  the  borers  can  be  con- 
trolled, the  second  generation  can  be  restricted  to  a  minimum,  the 
young  i)lants  can  easily  be  examined,  and  the  collecting  of  the  v^g^  is 
much  facilitated,  and  enables  us  to  save  a  great  many  shoots  from  l)ein(f 
cut  off.  If,  however,  the  cutting  off  of  shoots  is  absolutely  necessary, 
there  is  but  little  loss  of  cane,  since  the  shoots  at  this  time  are  quite 
small.  Moreover,  there  is  much  prol)ability  that  the  secondary  shoots 
formed  after  cutting  will  soon  equal  the  priumry  ones,  and  in  this  way 
the  i)]antation  be(H)nies  ecjual. 

With  the  half-grown  or  older  cane,  thrashing  is  a  i)artial  remedy 
against  borers  as  well  as  other  insects.  As  to  the  full  grown  cane,  the 
tields  should  be  burned  over  as  soon  as  the  cane  is  removed. 

TWO  JAPANESE  INSECTS  INJURIOUS  TO  FRUIT 

\>\  M.  M.vT^r.Mi'UA,  Sajijxno,  -hipan. 

APPLE    FKl'lT   BORER. 

{Lavcrna  InriUoa  I>u]).?) 

This  is  the  most  troublesome  insect  with  which  the  fruit  growers  of 
Jai)an  have  to  contend.  It  was  i)robably  introduced  Irom  some  foreign 
country,  and  is  now  met  with  wherever  apples  are  grown.  It  caused 
great  damage  during  the  year  1891,  and  is  still  doing  much  injury, 
esj)ecially  in  Hokkaido.  It  is  a  small  moth  which  belongs  to  the  Tineina, 
family  Lavernida*,  and  which  resembles  Coleophora  in  general  appear- 
ance. The  generic  and  sj)ecitic  names  of  this  insect  have  not  yet  been 
determined  with  exactness,  but  its  characters  coincide  with  the  descrip- 
tion of  Larerna  htrcllera  of  Dui)onchel.  as  given  by  Dr.  Oskar  Kirchuer, 


37 


of  Hohenheiii,  in  his  "KranKlieiteii  unci  Bcscluidiprniifren  unserer  laiid- 
wirtiisL'liafrliclKMi  Kultiirpllanzen,"  with  tlie  exception  that  tlic  lal)ial 
palpi  are  not  bhielcrin^ed.' 

Tma(fo. — Anterior  win<i'  loni>and  narrowband  broadest  near  the  base, 
Avitli  \o\\^  tVin«;es;  oronnd  ecdor  brownisli  jiray,  crossed  by  obscure, 
irrejiular  streaks  of  <;ray  and  purplisli  sliade;  a  (birker  streak  starts 
from  tlie  base  of  tlie  wingabnost  to  its  micblle;  the  inner  margin  yellow 
or  pale  yellow,  a  half-lon<;itndinal  dash  to  the  middle  of  wing,  where  2 
large  black  patches  obscurely  border  on  it;  costal  mar<iin  with  many 

yellowish    si)()ts;  outer    margin   with   a 
large  yellow  spot  near  the  tip  of  costal 


margin.     Hind 


hmceolate,    dark 


a,  moth;  h. 
d,  pupa  ill 
work  — a-f/. 


gray,  with  long  fringes ;  head  and  thorax 
with  many  pale  yellowish  scales;  an- 
tenna' long,  with  alternate  black  and 
yellow  joints,  the  basal  i)art  large,  being 
pale  yellowish,  with  a  tuft;  abdomen 
dark  gray,  legs  brownish  gray,  with  yel- 
lowisli  wings;  labial  palpi  long,  color 
like  the  head  scale.  Wing  expanse, 
12°'"';  body  length,  5""". 

Season   July;    habit    nocturnal,    but 
light  has  no  attracting  effect. 

Uggs. — I  have  not  yet  discovered  the 
eggs  of  this  insect,  but  the  place  where 
it  deposits  them  is  probably  on  the  side 
of  the  apple,  because  the  entrance  of  the 
larvae  is  easily  recognized  by  a  blackish 
spot  at  the  side  of  the  fruit  after  it  has 
ripened;  and  it  seems  that  usually  only 
one  egg  is  deposited  on  an  apple. 
Larva. — At  first  whitish,  with  black  head;  when  mature,  it  attains 
the  length  of  half  an  inc^h,  and  takes  on  a  fleshy  color  with  many  obscure, 
brownish  spots  on  each  segment,  from  which  a  single  minute  hair  arises. 
Head,  first  and  last  segments,  brownish  in  color. 
Larv;e  live  only  in  apple  cores,  injuring  the  seeds. 
The  larva  matures  in  a  month,  when  it  measures  about  7™"^  in  length. 
It  makes  a  passage  through  the  flesh  of  the  fruit,  and  reaches  the 
ground  bj'  letting  itself  down  by  a  silken  thread,  or  by  crawling  out 
soon  after  the  fruit  has  fallen.     In  either  case  it  makes  a  hole  in  the 
ground. 

1  An  apple  miner  occurring  in  British  Columbia  has  recently  been  reared  by  Dr. 
James  Fletcher  and  determined  by  Lord  Walsinghani  as  Argyresthia  conjugella  Zell. 
This  species,  of  whi<  h  the  writer  has  seen  specimens  through  Dr.  Fletchers  courtesy, 
is  so  like  Professor  Matsumura's  figure  of  the  species  under  consideration  as  to  sug- 
gest that  they  may  be  identical  and  that  the  Japanese  insect  has  already  been  intro- 
duced into  British  Columbia. — L.  O.  H. 


Fk;.  V.l.—Laverna  herdlera ; 
same  from  side;    c,  larva: 
cocoon;    e,  apple    showing 
enlarged;   e, reduced  (from  drawing  b\ 
author). 


38 

Its  only  know  II  food  ])laiit  is  a])])l(\ 

Pupa. —  Wlit'ii  jMipMtin'i;  it  iiuikes  white  coojmhis  in  the  earth,  consist- 
\uyi  of  a  (hnible  layer,  the  outer  bein*?  like  a  nioscinito  wet,  but  the  inner 
bciii^^  iiiiich  as  usual.  It  {generally  varies  in  shai)e  from  oblon<^  to 
spin<lh'  form.  nit'MSurinjr  0-7"""  in  Icnj^^th,  3""'  in  brea<lth.  It  always 
])n)iates  in  tiie  earth,  wherever  it  is  i>ossible  to  do  so;  but  when  the 
apples  are  packed  in  a  box  it  ])Upates  in  it,  and  then  it  is  carried  any 
distiincc,  hibernatin«i  in  this  state.  It  l)rceds  once  in  a  year,  unlike  tiie 
c(Mllin«;  moth,  the  latter  beinji"  two  nr  more  brooded  in  our  country. 

I'rt  rcntirc  imiJiotl.  —In  late  autumn  tlie  ground  under  the  affected  tree 
should  be  thoroughly  disturbed  so  as  to  e.\i)ose  the  cocoon  to  the  thaw- 
ing and  freezing  action  of  the  weather.  As  injured  apjdes  fall  easily, 
a  sliglit  Jariing  will  bring  them  down,  ahnost  all  of  them  with  insects 
in  them,  and  these  must  be  collected  before  the  insects  make  way  into 
the  ground.  Tiie  same  precaution  should  be  taken  with  tlie  fruits  which 
have  fallen  from  a  wind.  All  these  fallen  fruits  should  be  kept  in  a 
strong  1)()\  with  a  tight  cover,  leaving  no  opening  or  crevice;  and  these 
ma>  be  kept  for  family  use,  as  they  are  alway  sweeter  than  healthy  ones, 
but  they  will  not  do  for  storing  i)urp()ses.  Such  fruits  as  are  not  i)er- 
fectly  rii>e  are  of  use  as  food  for  swine,  etc.  Lump  sugar  is  of  no  value, 
but  Idock  sugar  in  *SVf/.r  solution,  kej)t  in  a  large-mouthed  bottle  jdaced 
upon  a  stand  or  hung  from  a  branch,  is  available  at  night,  but  in  daj'- 
time  the  bottle  should  be  kept  closed,  because  the  beneficial  insects, 
as  ai>hidivorous  flies  (Syrphus.  Paragus,  l^ipiza,  etc.).  seek  the  sac 
charine  solution  and  may  be  drowned  in  it.  The  moths  come  late 
in  June  or  early  in  July,  when  apples  grow  about  one  inch  in  diame- 
ter, so  1  doubt  whether  London  i)uri)le,  Paris  green,  lead  arsenate, 
arsenious  acid,  etc.,  are  safe  to  use  or  not;  perhaps  a  certain  portion 
of  the  poivson  used  may  remain  to  the  timeof  rii)ening,  and  may  become 
dangerous.  Kerosene  emulsion,  benzole,  nitrobenzole,  or  (^>uiebeirs 
insecticide,  etc.,  may  be  available,  but  1  have  not  yet  tried  any  of 
tlu'in.  Imported  apples  should  be  very  carefully  examined  and  also 
the  boxes  in  which  they  are  carried,  as  the  larva*  often  i)upate  in  a 
corner  or  crevice. 

PEAR   FRIIT    IJORKR. 

{Xvphopicnjx  riihri:on<  lla  l\a«j:.) 

There  aic  two  species  of  Japanese  i)ear  borers,  and  the  sj^ecies  under 
consideration  is  muvM  large)-  than  the  other.  In  1881>  the  smaller  sju'cies 
(which  is  not  yet  named)  was  described  by  Mr.  S.  lkeda,of  the  Agri- 
cultural College  of  Tokyo,  in  the  Zoological  ^Fagazim^  (Tokyo,  Vol. 
I,  ]).  1M>);  but  its  life  history  was  not  known  clearly  at  that  time.  By 
this  larger  borer  our  pear  growers  have  been  losing  every  year  30  to 
50  ])er  cent  of  their  crops,  it  being  a  much  more  troublesome  insect 
than  the  apjjle  borer  I  have  elsewhere  described,  l^ntomologically  it 
belongs  to  the  family  Phycitida',  and  its  generic  and  specific  names 
were  kindly  given  me  by  Dr.  W.  .L  Holhmd.  of  l*ittsburg,  through  the 
kindness  of  Dr.  L.  O.  Howard. 


3!) 


Imacjo. — Antoima'  curved  over  tlic  basal  Joint,  tlie  latter  with  a 
scaly  tuft;  labial  palpi  compressed,  with  a  lon<;-  end  Joint;  niaxillaiy 
l)al])i  small  and  tilitbrm;  anterior  win<»-  with  11  veins,  branches  1  and  5 
notbein^-  stalked;  ground  color  varying  Irom  <;rayish  brown  to  grayish 
black;  crossed  by  two eipiidistant irregularly  ])innated  grayish  boidc^i-ed 
black  lines;  outer  margin  and  basal  half  much  deei)er  in  color,  with  a 
black  discocellular  marking  in  the  middle  of  the  wing.  Hind  wing 
dark  gray  with  8  veins,  the  first  two  branches  being  near  each  other; 
branches  o,  4,  and  T)  spring  from 
hind  angle  of  the  closed  mid-cell. 
The  thorax  is  of  the  same  color  as 
the  anterior  wing,  abdomen  much 
paler;  hind  tibia'  large  and  com- 
pressed, with  4  spines.    Wing  ex- 


a  common  stalk,  whic^h 


arises  from 


pause,  25">'";  body  length,  12"""; 
2  brooded  in  a  year;  first  brood, 
middle  of  July,  a  second,  late 
Sept(Hnber  to  early  October. 

Fjiigs. — Tliey  are  placed  Just 
under  a  small  twig  wdiere  the  raiu 
does  not  directly  strike,  protected 
safely  by  a  Avhite  silk  web.  The 
eggs  under  that  cover  are  about 
twenty  in  number,  oblong  in 
shape,  both  ends  being  a  little 
narrower;  very  flat;  black  in 
color;  7"'"'  by  (>"'"'  in  size. 

The  species  hiberiiates  in  this 
state. 

Larva. — The  eggs  hatch  in 
early  June,  at  the  time  when 
the  pear  attains  the  size  of  a 
cherry.  The  larva^  at  first  spin 
much  silken  thread  on  the  branches  and  then  make  their  way  to  differ- 
ent fruits  near  by.  Injured  fruits  are  almost  always  attached  by  silken 
threads  at  that  place  of  the  branch  where  a  fruit  stalk  hangs.  At  first 
pale  white  in  color,  with  black  head  and  blackish  first  segment,  the 
larvae  gradually  change  in  color  to  grayish  yellow,  and  when  fully  mature 
they  take  a  pinkish -brown  color,  and  measure  about  20"""  in  length. 
They  are  si)indle-shaped  in  general,  and  consist  of  12  segments,  of 
which  the  sixth,  the  seventh,  and  the  eighth  are  longest;  head  brown- 
ish black;  the  upper  part  of  the  second  segment  with  two  pitchy-black 
horny  spots;  legs  show  nothing  unusual.  They  injure  only  the  core  of 
pears,  and  as  they  leave  always  a  large  blackish  opening  at  their  en- 
trance, it  is  easy  to  detect  their  presence.  The  larval  stage  lasts  three 
weeks  or  more;  the  specimens  which  I  reared  made  cocoons  June  30. 

Food  plant,  only  pear. 


Fig,  14. — Nephopteryx  rtibrizonella :  a,  moth ;  b,  larva; 
c,  pupa  in  sitti  in  poar;  d,  twig  showing  cg^  mass 
above  at  right  —  natural  size  (from  drawing  hy 
author). 


40 

/*i(j)(i. — It  always  changes  to  i)upa  within  tl»e  core  of  the  fruit,  spin- 
nin*::  vcmt  little  silk.  The  pupa  is  deep  red  biown  in  color,  head,  thor 
rax,  and  \vin«,^  portion  bcin^^  much  more  so.  it  measures  13"""  to  15""" 
in  len<,^th.     The  2>n])al  staj^^'  lasts  more  than  two  weeks. 

rrerenlive  method. — The  most  effectual  preventive  method  is  to  take 
ofl'  the  c^^«r'^  during:  the  winter  months,  as  they  are  easily  recoj^niized  by 
their  whitisli  web  cover  at  the  branclics.  \\)i'  this  purpose  pruning*  is 
indispensable,  eggs  being  almost  always  on  the  tops  of  the  branches, 
and  when  ])riincd  they  should  b©  immediately  burned.  The  remaining 
branches  should  be  carelully  searched.  The  i'ii:^;^^  are  always  placed  near 
the  hibernating  nest  of  the  pear  leaf-roller,  Uhodophaa  holUiiKlella  l^ig. 
Kerosene  emulsion  is  very  beneticial  after  pruning  as  well  as  in  early 
June,  at  the  time  of  larva's  hatching,  for  it  kills  at  the  same  time  the 
larva'  of  leaf-roller.  After  the  larva*  bore  into  the  fruit  no  remedy  is 
accessible  excejit  carbon  bisulphide,  but  this  chemical  being  very 
exi)ensive  I  oidy  used  it  on  a  dwarf  tree,  i)ouring  it  with  a  small  brush 
into  the  hole  through  which  the  insect  entered.  It  very  foou  killed  the 
insect  and  no  injury  was  done  to  the  fruit.  Now,  in  our  garden,  i)ick- 
ing  off  the  injured  fruit  by  hand  is  the  only  means  resorted  to,  as  they 
are  easily  recognized  by  their  black  holes  and  their  excrement.  Lump 
sugar  is  of  no  use,  but  a  sugar  solution  in  Sukv  in  any  glass  vial  attracts 
them. 

DESTRUCTIVE  LOCUSTS  IN  1897. 

[llt'|>ort  <>('  invi^-^tijratioii.s  coTi<lii(t«<l  uikIit  instnutioiis  fimii  tin-  Ent«)iii(ilii;;i.sl.l 
Hy  W.  I).  llrxTKK,   Tcinjmrani  FifUl  .\(jeni. 

T'nder  commission  dated  July  27,  1897,  and  letter  of  instructions  of 
the  same  date,  1  left  Lincoln  on  the  3d  of  August,  by  the  P)urlington 
Lailroad,  for  some  of  the  western  counties  of  Nebraska.  The  first  stop 
was  made  at  Benkleman,  where  I  learned  that  much  damage  had  been 
done  in  Dundy  County  in  this  and  preceding  years.  From  this  point  I 
proceeded  to  Denver,  stopping  at  Haigler,  Xebr.,  and  at  Yuma.  Akron, 
and  Fort  Morgan,  Colo.,  at  each  of  which  points  collections  were  made 
and  inquiries  addressed  to  residents  regarding  locust  deva.stations. 

From  Denver  I  worked  up  and  down  the  foothills  of  the  mountains 
through  the  most  productive  agricultural  part  of  the  State,  making 
sto})s  at  (jreelej'.  Fort  Collin.s,  Longmont,  Colorado  Si)rings,  ^Lmitou, 
Colorado  City,  and  Pueblo.  I  i)roceeded  from  Pueblo  to  (irand  Junc- 
tion, stopping  at  Canon  City,  Salida,  (rlenwood  Springs,  and  DePecpie 
between  these  places.  Some  interest  attaches  itself  to  investigations 
made  in  the  Grand  l^iver  Valley,  the  rich  fruit-growing  region  of  the 
State,  on  account  of  the  damage  done  in  the  spring  of  1893  to  fruit 
trees  by  locusts,  and  the  i)robability  of  a  recurrence  of  it.  Stops  were 
made  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Ogden,  and  Cache  Junction  in  Utah:  and  in 
Idaho,  Pocatello,  American  Falls,  and  numerous  other  places  along  the 


41 

Oregon  Short  Line  were  visited.  Kuntin^iiton,  Orep:.,  wliic.li  is  ratlier 
out:-i(U'  ol  the  tarnnn«;  district  ot  the  State,  and  Pendleton,  in  tlie  (MMitcr 
of  tlie  t'arininj»:  district,  were  then  visited.  A  stop  of  some  days  was 
made  at  tliis  point  becanse  of  the  rei)orts  received  re«iardinf4-  (hinnige 
done  to  wheat  in  tiiis  vicinity,  on  the  Cohunbia  phitcan,  in  tliis  and 
])recedin.<i-  years. 

Only  Walhi  Walhi  and  Spokane  T'alls,  in  Washinj^ton,  and  two  phices 
in  Montana,  were  visited.  This  resnlted  as  niucli  from  beinj>'  reason- 
ably certain  that  tliis  region  was  exeni])t  from  injnry  as  from  lack  of 
time.  On  my  return,  stops  were  made  at  Sheridan,  Wyo.;  l^idgemont 
and  Deadwood,  S.  J3ak.,  and  at  various  points  between  Ohadron  and 
Lincoln. 

After  returning  to  Lincoln,  numerous  short  trips  were  taken  to  differ- 
ent points  in  the  State.  Beatrice,  Fairbury,  Geneva,  Columbus,  Omaha, 
and  Fremont  were  visited  at  this  time. 

The  plan  pursued  was — 

First.  To  visit  personally  as  many  districts  as  possible  where  known 
to  be  infested. 

Second.  To  pass  through  and  along  the  limits  of  the  permanent 
breeding  region,  making  short  excursions  within  to  ascertain  the  status 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain  locust  [Melanoplua  spretus)  which,  at  the  time  of 
beginning  this  work,  appeared  to  be  in  a  condition  of  general  awak- 
ening. 

Besides  the  information  gathered  on  this  trip  of  investigation,  I  have 
used,  in  making  this  report,  observations  made  and  material  collected 
on  a  trip  through  the  northern  and  western  part  of  Nebraska  and  east- 
ern Wyoming  in  the  interest  of  the  Nebraska  Experiment  Station,  dur- 
ing June;  also  a  trip  from  Lincoln  to  Salt  Lake  City,  on  which  many 
stops  were  made,  in  July;  and  on  a  trip  to  the  Big  Horn  Mountains, 
40  miles  west  of  Sheridan,  AVyo.,  also  in  July.  These  trips — one  to  the 
heart  of  the  permanent  region  in  Wyoming,  another  one  completely 
through  this  region,  500  miles  farther  south,  with  the  trip  through  Col- 
orado to  tlie  south  aiul  Montana  to  the  north — completed  a  reasonably 
exhaustive  survey  of  the  regions  liable  to  injury  and  of  the  sources 
from  which  injury,  if  it  is  done  next  season,  will  spring. 

Although  the  discussion  of  this  question  may  not,  in  the  nature  of 
the  case,  be  readily  divided  by  States,  yet,  in  the  furtherance  of 
detiniteness  as  well  as  for  convenience,  1  have  so  divided  the  subject. 
The  summary  at  the  close  will,  I  hope,  remove  unintended  impressions 
resulting  from  this  method. 

NEBRASKA. 

The  Ivocky  Mountain  locust  (Melanoplus  spretns),  hatched  in  the 
early  part  of  April  in  this  State  along  the  Niobrara  Valley,  from  Sioux 
County  on  the  west  eastwards  nearly  200  miles  to  the  vicinity  of  Bas- 
sett,  and  in  the  valley  of  the  North  Platte  from  the  west  boundary  of 


42 

till'  State,  in  Siotts  liliill  ('(mnty.  eastwar<l  to  tho  Jmu'tion  oftlu'  North 
ami  South  Platte.  It  was  not  t'oiind  on  the  South  Platte,  except  very 
sparsely  between  Oj^allala  and  North  Platte.  With  the  exception  of 
isolated  jioints,  notably  (lehrin^,  Crawford,  and  Ainswortli,  this  species 
was  not,  however,  jruilty  of  most  of  the  dainaj^e  that  was  at  that  time 
reported  from  that  region.  This  area  is  within  the  subperinaiient 
re;:i()ii,  and  the  locusts  that  have  done  damage  this  season  are  of  the 
swarm  that  entered  in  the  fall  of  1S95.  The  natural  tendency  to 
become  weakeiu*d  and  die  out  in  this  re<;ion  has  been  counteracted  by 
a  series  of  seasons  unusually  favorable  for  their  continuati<ui.  The 
result  is  that  instead  of  dyin«:  out  tliey  have  unexpecte<lly  been  on  the 
increase,  until  this  year  tlie\'  have  attracted  j:reat  attention. 

It  nnist  not  be  understood  that  there  has  been  a  s})r(tus  plague  in 
Nebraska  this  year,  because  such  is  tar  from  having  been  the  case. 
The  same  conditions  that  have  causml  the  ])resent  aspect  of  attairs 
regaiding  sprtfus  have  brought  about  an  immense  increas<'  of  the  native 
species.  In  the  total  amount  of  damage  that  has  been  done,  the  amount 
attributable  to  sprrftis.  in  comparison  to  that  by  native  si)ecies.  becomes 
quite  insigniticant.  The  truth  is.  however,  that  Nebraska  has  suflered 
more  this  season  than  in  any  season  in  the  last  ten  years. 

During  the  month  of  Sei)tember  sprctn.s  left  the  region  where  it 
hatched,  in  swarms.  I  was  much  interested  to  note  a  weak  return 
swarm  ])assingover  the  Black  Hills,  in  South  Dakota,  on  Sejjtember  12, 
and  have  Ix^en  at  considerable  i)ains  to  investigate  this  point  further. 
1  have  been  unable,  however,  to  obtain  any  trace  of  other  such  swarms. 
Since  there  have  been  numerous  swarms  in  the  normal  direction,  and 
no  one  has  informed  me  of  any,  nor  have  I  observed  any  other  than  this 
one  weak  one.  I  consider  that  it  does  not  change  materially  the  aspect 
of  the  case. 

Reference  to  the  tiles  of  the  Weather  Bureau  Station  here  sheds  the 
following  light  on  this  excei)tional,  S]»asmodic  return  tlight,  as  well  as 
on  the  general  southeasterly  tlight  during  the  month  of  August.  With 
the  exception  only  of  the  3<l  and  4th  the  wind  in  the  region  of  the 
lUack  Hills  was  southeast  and  south,  and  only  on  two  days  as  nearly 
toward  the  northwest  as  due  northeast.  The  general  direction  for  this 
month  was  decidedly  toward  the  southeast.  This  condition  ])revailed 
Xho  tirst  six  days  of  Sei)tember.  On  the  7th.  how(»ver,  the  wind 
changed  to  the  north,  and  on  the  Sth  it  blew  toward  the  northwest, 
and  on  the  l>th  south,  but  weak:  on  the  lOth  northwest:  on  the  1 1th, 
the  ilaj'  ])receding  this  occurence,  toward  the  northwest  in  this  region 
and  in  all  the  surrounding  country.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  wind 
will  explain  this  tlight  and  that  the  decidedly  scmtheasterly  direction 
of  the  wind — it  blowing  n<uthwest only  three  isolated  days  subsequent 
in  this  month — explains  the  absence  of  other  nortlu'rly  tlights  and  the 
noted  southerly  ones. 

During  the  greater  i)art  of  September  loose  swarms  of  the  Kocky 
Mountain  locust  might  have  been  si'cn  in  almost  any  i)art  of  the  Stiite 


driltiiiji"  toward  tin*  south.  I  luivo  been  unable  to  find  traces  of  a  new 
in\'asion  from  tlie  nortli.  The  situation  tluMi  at  tlic  present  time  is  tliat 
tlie  stock  that  did  the  dama<i"c  hist  year  has  inoscd  alxnit  200  mih's 
farther  south,  so  that  most  of  the  8tat«'  is  covered.  However,  it  has 
bec^ome  weakeued  and  spread  so  tliat,  except  in  localities,  the  locusts 
will  not,  in  my  opinion,  be  lieard  oi"  next  seiison.  Tlioy  will  cause 
dama<i-e  less  than  was  done  last  season  in  the  eastern  j)art  of  the  Nio- 
brara N'alley  and  the  South  Platte  N'alhn'. 

The  native  species  have  been  numerous  enough  tp  do  considerable 
damage  iu  all  of  the  western  half  of  the  State.  The  limit  of  damage 
coincides,  i)ractically,  with  the  linnt  of  the  drought-stricken  regions  of 
the  preceding  years.  The  regions  in  which  the  damage  has  been  most 
appaent  have  been  the  i^iobrara  Valley  eastward  as  far  as  Neleigh, 
the  North  and  South  Platte,  and  the  liepublican  as  far  <'astward  as 
Indianola,  with  many  branches  between  these  latter,  and  north  of  the 
North  Platte.  These  regions  have  not,  however,  been  uniforndy 
affected.  One  county  may  be  severely  affected  and  the  next  one  not  at 
all.  In  short,  this  whole  region  is  covered  with  areas  of  infestation 
sei)arated  by  areas  abuost  entirely  exempt  and  these  areas  are  not 
bounded  by  any  natural  obstacles. 

A  trip  west  and  soutlnvest  from  Alliance  to  Sidney  by  way  of  Gehr- 
ing  showed  parts  of  the  country  affected  so  severely  that  grain  and 
even  the  woody  parts  of  plants  were  entirely  destroyed,  and  the  locusts 
w^ere  so  numerous  as  to  cover  miles  of  fence  posts,  although  this  con- 
dition did  not  prevail  everywhere.  This  damage  was  most  severe  near 
Gehring,  although  there  was  a  large  region  south  of  that  point  that 
was  apparently  not  affected.  The  region  near  Ogallala  was  almost 
devastated. 

The  same  conditions  were  found  in  the  Niobrara  and  Kepublican 
valleys.  The  almost  universal  dying  out  of  the  prairie  grass,  the 
favorite  food  of  most  of  the  species,  has  driven  the  locusts  into  culti- 
vated land.  In  the  vicinity  of  Benkleman  I  found  a  field  of  wheat 
that  was  so  nearly  destroyed  that  the  owner  had  given  u])  hope  of 
harvesting  it  at  all,  but  a  walk  of  several  hours  across  the  adjacent 
prairies  discovered  only  a  few  dozen  insects  until  another  tield  was 
reached. 

It  is  truly  astonishing  to  observe,  when  the  conditions  are  such  as 
these,  that  the  farmers  are  so  slow  in  being  aroused  to  activity  against 
these  pests.  Nature,  it  seems,  lias  brought  all  their  six-footed  enemies 
together  in  small  areas,  and  all  tiiere  await  destruction.  All  the  locusts 
within  a  square  mile  may  be  collected  on  a  few  acres,  as  in  the  case 
mentioned,  where  a  few  hours'  labor  would  destroy  them  all;  then  the 
idea  that  it  is  best  to  destroy  them  to  prevent  an  outbreak  next  year 
is  so  remote  that  it  is  not  usually  acted  upon.  It  is  possible,  I  believe, 
to  destroy  this  pest  in  Nebraska  by  the  use  of  'dozers  at  the  proper 
seasons. 

The  areas  noted  above  are  about  180  square  miles  in  extent,  situjited 


44 

about  (iehriiiK  as  a  center;  South  i'latte  to  Xorth  Platte  (100  miles  of 
the  North  Platte  Valley  before  the  junction  with  the  Platte  has  been 
exempt).  Chase,  Dundy,  Hays,  and  Hitchcock  counties  in  Niobrara 
\'alle\,  Chadron,  and  troni  Ainsworth  to  Neleigh. 

The  sjK'cies  concerned  in  the  damage  have  been,  in  order  of  their 
abundance,  the  ditVercntial  locust  [M.  different ial is  Thos.),  the  lesser 
nn^ratoiV  locust  (M.tithntis  Kiiey),  tiie  two  striped  locust  {M.  birittntus 
Say),  and  tlie  red  Ie;i<ied  \iWJi^t{M.  femur  rnitrnm  I)e(>.).  Tlie  remark- 
able j>oini  in  this  connection  is  the  scarcity  of  the  lonir-winged  hx'ust 
( IHssostt'ira  l(Hif/ijK-n)iis  Tiios.),  which  was  very  noticeal)le  last  year  and 
was  supjMKsed  to  show  indications  of  becominjj^  very  troublesome.  It 
caused  juactically  no  dmna^e  excei>t  at  one  isolated  j»oint  near  ()«ral 
lala.  An  equally  rennukable  fact  was  the  incicase  at  some  i)oiiits  of 
JlippiscKs  ronillipes  Hald.,  which,  like  J),  lom/ipennis,  nj)  to  within 
three  years  was  extremely  rare,  and  is  so  recorded  in  Professor  Pruner's 
list  of  ()rth()})tera  published  hist  sprin«j:.  This  lar^^e  species  was  found 
at  Sidney,  North  IMatte,  and  some  other  points  in  abundance.  It  has 
never  before  been  known  to  cause  injury,  ^f.  anffuxtipennis  Dodfje. 
and  M./u(1hs  Scudd..  as  well  as  other  species  of  destructive  tendencies 
have,  as  far  as  1  have  found,  been  at  a  standstill.  In  this  State  1  found 
no  funjrus  or  bacterial  disease  abundant  enou«»h  to  atfect  the  situation 
except  locally.  Tachinid  parasites  were  extremely  numerous  at  Cul- 
bertson,  Sidney,  and  Indianola. 

KANSAS. 

The  liOcky  Mountain  locust,  Mrlanoplus  spretus,  was  practically 
absent  from  Kansas  this  season,  althou^jh  some  few  specimens  have 
invaded  the  northern  part  of  the  State  and  deposited  their  etjors  durin^r 
September.     These  will  undoubtedly  not  be  heard  of  next  season. 

In  the  western  third  of  the  State  the  valleys  of  the  Solomon,  Arkansas, 
and  Cinnamon  rivers  have  been  generally  affected  by  the  non-nn«iTatory 
species,  and  the  damaji^e  has  been  intensified  in  the  northwestern  and 
southwestern  corners  of  the  State  alonj:"  the  tributaries  of  the  Ke]>ub- 
lican  and  the  main  valley  of  the  Arkansas.  During  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember this  latter  region  was  attected  so  severely  that  application  for 
helj)  was  rtiade  to  the  Kansas  State  board  of  agriculture  at  Toi)eka,  and 
the  University  of  Kansas  has  issued  a  bulletin  on  the  subject.  The 
counties  that  have  been  most  atl'ected  are  Rawlins.  Decatur,  and  Norton 
in  the  northwestern  ])art,  and  Hamilton.  Keainey,  Finney,  >rorton,and 
(irant  in  the  southwestern  part.  The  remainder  of  the  western  part 
seems  to  have  been  infested  with  scarcely  more  than  the  nornnil  nund)er 
of  locusts.  The  reasons  for  this  state  of  affairs  are  i)recisely  the  same 
as  those  for  the  conditions  in  Nebraska,  and  the  pest  might  as  easily 
be  removed  by  proper  means. 

The  si)ecies  conc<'riUMl  are  ])ractically  the  same  as  those  in  Nebraska, 
M(l(in(q}h(s  diiycrvntinlis  doing  at  least  three  fourths  of  the  damage, 


4") 

e\cei)t  that  Acridinm  frontalis  Tlios.  was  touiul  injurinj::  alfalfa  and 
sorghuMi  especially.  The  natural  food  of  this  species  is  the  iieliiintliia', 
but  ill  recent  years  the  tendency  to  become  adapted  to  culti  vtited  i)lants, 
which  has  also  been  observed  in  the  case  of  Dissosterbt  loiu/ipcnnis  aiul 
other  species,  lias  been  (luite  noticeable.  It  is  worthy  of  note  also  that 
sor<;liuin  is  taken  in  preference  to  most  other  i)lants,  altliou«;h  I  saw 
fields  of  alfalfa  and  millet  rendered  valueless  by  this  species. 

Melanoplm  hirittatus  was  scarcely  less  numerous  than  (lifferrHtialis  in 
some  ])la('es.  but  this  does  not  contradict  the  above  statement  that  three- 
fourths  of  the  daniaoe  was  done  by  the  latter  species.  />.  lon</ipcnnis 
was  occasionally  met  with.     Hippiscus  corallipes  Hald.  was  not  found. 

The  Arkansas  Valley  has  been  exem])t  from  much  injury  for  several 
seasons,  but  it  is  favorable  weather  conditions  and  the  absence  of  par- 
asites that  have  brought  about  the  present  state  of  affairs.  The  i)ests 
are  increasing,  and  although  they  will  not  be  mu(;h  in  evidence  next 
year  on  account  of  the  very  natural  increase  of  parasites,  the  trouble 
will  not  at  least  be  augmented.  Unfavorable  weather  conditions,  such 
as  freezing  or  a  late  or  wet  spring,  may,  however,  noticeably  diminish  the 
number  of  locusts  here.  The  preponderance  of  evidence  points  to  the 
fact  that  the  trouble  is  a  permanent  one,  in  spite  of  the  aid  given  by 
parasites  and  meteorological  conditions,  or,  at  any  rate,  of  frequent 
periodical  occurrence,  and  that  the  work  of  the  farmers  and  not  the 
intervention  of  Providence  is  the  only  way  out  of  the  difticulty. 
Destruction  is  made  easy  by  the  fact  that  the  locusts  are  collected  in 
small  areas,  as  has  been  indicated  in  the  discussion  of  the  situation  in 
Nebraska.  The  parasites  may  be  abundant  one  season  in  one  of  these 
areas,  or  may  even  practically  exterminate  the  locusts  infesting  it,  but 
do  not  easily  spread  to  the  neighboring  fields,  which  may  be  3  or  4 
miles  distant.  Thereupon  the  locusts  begin  to  increase  again  in  this 
area,  and  this  process  is  repeated  continuously.  The  ready  means  of 
control  of  the  pests  by  the  farmers  and  the  reasons  why  it  is  possible 
will  be  brought  out  more  fully  in  the  discussion  of  the  conditions  in 
Colorado,  which  are  much  the  same.  - 

COLORADO. 

Rocky  Mountain  locusts  [Melanoplus  spretiiH)v;QTQ  i:>ractically  absent 
from  Colorado  this  season,  although  I  collected  a  few  specimens  m  the 
vicinity  of  Julesburg  and  at  a  point  directly  south  of  Sidney,  across  the 
Nebraska  line  in  Logan  County.  Specimens  were  by  no  means  numer- 
ous, and  I  liave  no  doubt  that  they  represent  the  extreme  advance  guard 
of  the  species.  Professor  Gillette  informs  me  that  he  knows  of  no  case 
of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  Colorado  in  the  past  six  years,  add- 
ing, however,  that  most  of  his  locust  collecting  has  been  done  along  the 
foothills.  Certainly  it  has  not  been  present  during  this  season  in  more 
than  a  few  counties  in  the  extreme  northeastern  parts  of  the  State. 

The  damage  done  by  the  native  species  reached  its  greatest  extent 


4(> 

ill  tilt'  irri^attMl  portions  of  ('oloia<lo  and  is  due  to  easily  explainable 
(in  lunstances.  Tlie  whole  ol  the  inijja  ted  portion  of  the  State,  coiisist- 
iuji  of  the  \  alleys  of  streams  dcsctMidinj;  from  the  mountains,  has  been 
seriously  affected.  The  portion  of  the  Tlatte  \alley  in  the  neij^hbor 
li<M»d  t»f  (lre«*l(*y  and  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas  in  the  \icinity  of  Las 
Animas  sceni.  however,  to  have  suffered  most.  l>t*sides  this  irri«i:ated 
area,  a  laij^e  portion  of  land  alon<^^  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  State 
above  the  points  to  which  water  may  be  carrie<l  for  irri^iation  has  suf 
fered  to  sonu'  extent,  i-larly  in  May  letters  from  this  region  statt^l  that 
the  indications  were  that  e\erything  would  bedestro.\  ed.  In  a  jieneral 
way  it  is  true  that  tiie  whole  tarnjinj?  territ<uy  of  the  State  may  be 
included  in  the  territory  very  noticeably  affected. 

The  s)»ecies  most  concerned  have  been  MvlatKtphis  hirittdtna  Say,  M. 
ftmurrtihnnn  J)e(l.,  M.  atUinls  J^iley,  M.  ftnluH  Scudd.,  and  Acridium 
fntutdlis  Thos.,  with  a  noticeable  presence  of  M.  diflrrcHtialix  Thos.  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  The  two  first-named  species  were  jjres- 
ent  everywhere,  and  in  some  pla(;es  in  almost  incredible  numbers, 
hivittatiis  ([om*j^  l)rol)ably  three-fourths  of  the  injury.  In  the  vicinity 
of  I'ort  Collins  I  often  counted  as  many  as  25  hirj^e,  vigorous  specimens 
of  this  species  in  a  square  yard  along  the  roadside,  and  in  some  places 
they  were  even  more  numerous,  as  many  as  40  being  counted  in  more 
than  one  case. 

The  indications  are  that  north  of  Colorado  Springs  .1/.  hirittatus  has 
done  the  most  injury,  and  south  of  that  point  M.  /emu r-rnhrmii.  M. 
/(idus  was  most  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  Colorado  Springs,  but  its 
damage  was  comparatively  very  slight.  .1/.  lakinus  Scudd.  was  only 
observed  here  and  in  very  small  numbers.  A  sweep  net  full  of  locusts 
taken  in  this  vicinity  yielded  (JL  si)ecimens,  30  of  which  were  M./cnmr- 
rubrum^  8  .1/.  ((tlanis,  8  M.  firdns,  7  .1/.  bicitttfins,  and  the  renniining  8 
rei)resenting  e(|ually  some  harmless  si)ecies.  Further  south  and  in  the 
Arkansas  Valley  A.  frontalis  became  more  numerous,  especially  outside 
the  region  of  the  foothills  toward  the  Kansas  boundary. 

A  careful  study  of  the  situation  in  Colorado  makes  it  evident  that 
injury  from  locusts  is  an  invariable  concomitant  of  irrigation  as  at  i>res- 
ent  practiced,  rnder  the  present  conditions  grass  and  weeds  or  grain 
si)ring  up  along  the  irrigating  ditches  and  are  allowed  to  stand.  This 
results  from  two  facts:  First,  it  is  necessary  to  cut  the  vegetation  along 
these  ditches  by  hand  if  it  is  cut  at  all,  because  in  the  immediate  vicin 
ity  of  the  ditidies  the  soil  is  too  moist  to  admit  the  use  of  horsi*  powei-. 
Second,  it  is  generally  sui)poscd  that  allowing  the  vegetation  to  remain 
increases  the  eflicacy  of  the  ditch  by  preventing  seei)age.  As  to  the 
first  of  these  reasons  it  may  be  readily  st  en  that  the  harvesting  of  a 
strip  of  grain  or  hay  fifteen  feet  wide,  which  is  the  usual  width  of  such 
strii)s,  would  easily  rei)ay  the  farmer  because  it  is  the  richest  growth 
in  the  whole  field.  It  is  thus  altogether  i)robable  that  theieturns  from 
these  strips  would  L)e  greater  ju-oportionately  than  from  the  remainder 


47 

of  tlie  iiold.  It  would  mIso  seem,  in  renard  to  tlit^  second  oftlie  ;il)ov(v 
iiamed  i)oiiits,  that  tlu^  pioveiition  of  sccpaji^e  by  short-rooted  annual 
l)lants  or  even  allalta  would  be  slight  and  would  be  more  than  repaid 
by  the  protits  on  the  grain  or  hay  harvested  alon-^  the  ditch.  However, 
it  is  the  i)raetice,  with  only  very  rarely  an  exception,  to  allow  these 
spaces  to  jiiow  u\)  to  weeds.  In  thes<'  extremely  dani})  plac<'s  il  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at  that  species  of  locusts  with  such  habits  as  M<hinoj>lus 
hiriitatns  become  exceedin<»ly  abundant  and  troublesonu'.  In  fact,  these 
strips  ai-e  thestartin<;i)oint  of  suchauund)erof  locusts  that  in  this  region 
the  total  acreage  is  much  atfected.  They  hatch  in  the  spring  aud  si)rcad 
over  the  tields,  then  when  the  grain  is  cut,  are  driven  back  to  the  sides 
of  the  ditches,  from  which  i)lace  they  si)rea(l  to  deposit  their  eggs  in  the 
fall.  It  would  be  the  simplest  of  matters  to  exterminate  them,  even 
though  the  juactice  of  leaving  strips  along  the  sides  of  the  ditches  were 
not  given  up,  by  the  thorough  and  i)ersistent  use  of ''dozers"  after  the 
grain  had  been  cut  from  the  tields.  In  short,  all  the  locusts  iu  the 
country  are  driven  at  this  time  to  the  sides  of  the  irrigating  ditches, 
and  no  doubt  at  that  time  a  process  of  driving  by  means  of  beating  of 
the  locusts,  which  is  very  easily  accomplished,  from  the  inside  of  the 
fences  to  the  outside  and  the  drawing  of  ''  dozers''  along  the  roadsides 
with  an  analogous  process  appbad  to  the  ditches  would  result  in  the 
destruction  of  all  of  them.  For  this  purpose  a  modified  "dozer''  drawn 
by  a  horse  attached  to  one  side  would  be  of  best  avail.  The  expense 
compared  to  the  present  annual  loss  would  be  very  slight,  and  should 
be  borne  by  the  counties  in  the  infested  areas.  If  this  is  not  done  dam- 
age will  result  in  the  future  just  as  certainly  as  the  seasons  recur  as 
long  as  the  present  method,  or  lack  of  method,  is  in  vogue. 

One  of  the  most  valuable  observations  made  in  the  territory  most 
infested  was  the  presence  of  immense  flocks  of  Brewer's  blackbird 
[Scolecophagiis  cyanocephaliis  Wagl.)  hovering  along  the  roads  and 
destroying  immense  numbers  of  the  locusts.  Several  birds  obtained 
from  a  flock  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Collins  had  their  stomachs  crammed 
with  from  -H)  to  50  specimens  of  these  insects.  The  grasshopper  fun- 
gus disease,  Umjmsa  grylli  Fres.,  and  Tachinid  parasites  were  most 
numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  Greeley.  However,  these  attacks  are  rather 
local,  and  they  do  not  seem  to  affect  the  local  situation,  especially  since 
the  flies  do  not  appear  until  the  locusts  have  done  nio«t  of  the  damage 
which  they  are  capable  of  doing. 

In  the  western  i)art  of  Colorado  an  unexi^ected  and  dangerous  find 
was  made  in  the  presence  of  Acrid ium  shoshone  Thos.  in  the  Grand 
Yalley  above  (irand  Junction.  This  si)ecies  has  not  been  found  in  this 
region  beiore,  though  it  has  been  known  to  infest  adjacent  parts  of 
I^tah.  It  was  only  seen  in  the  Grand  Yalley  bottom  near  DeBequc, 
and  was  feeding  upon  willow.  It  was  present  now^here  in  injurious 
numbers  and  was  not  discovered  upon  fruit  trees.  It  is  an  arboreal 
species,  aud  under  the  conditions,  which  appear  to  be  very  favorable  for 


its  increase,  may  do  «^reiit  injury  if  it  atlucks  Iruit  trees,  as  it  undoubt- 
edly will.  Almost  the  sole  industry  of  the  people  of  this  valley  is  fruit 
raisin^,and  if  this  species  ])ec<)mesa))undant  it  will  cause  <j^reat  trouble. 
Several  years  have  elapsed  since  an  orthopterolo^acal  survey  has 
been  made  ill  t  his  re*]fion,  which  has  suffered  at  least  once  in  the  past  and 
is  liable  to,  a^iiiu  in  the  future.  I  found  that  no  dama^ic  of  any  cou- 
sequence  had  been  done  since  Professor  Bruncr's  visit  in  ISlKi,  th(Ui«,di 
the  tai>h' lands,  mesas,  and  foothills  harbor  a  number  of  species  which 
may  cause  injury  at  almost  any  time.  Such  si)ecies  aie  McJunttjtlus 
(ithtiii.s,  M.  hirittdfus,  M.  di (}\'r<  nti((lls,  and  Pczotetti.c  rltcnojKxHl.  The 
last  mentioned  locust  was  the  most  conspicuous,  and  at  one  point,  20 
miles  north  ot  DelUMpui  on  ('lear  ("reek,  had  destroyed  a  tield  of  alfalfa 
(►f  small  extent.  This  was  the  only  case  of  damage  that  came  to  my 
notice. 

UTAH. 

This  State  was  not  atVected  ])y  the  Kocky  Mountain  locust  this  season. 
Specimens  were  found  near  Salt  Lake  City,  in  the  l)i<^  Cottonwood  Can- 
yon, on  the  tablelands  eastward,  aiul  in  the  immediatxi  vicinity  of  Kcho 
in  the  valley  of  the  AVeber  Kiver.  A  few  were  also  taken  in  a  w^aste 
held  adjoining  the  railroad  track  at  Cache  Junct'on.  In  this  State 
neither  was  any  great  damage  done  by  the  native  8])ecies.  Inquiry  of 
farmers  long  residents  of  this  region  invariably  brought  out  remarks 
concerning  the  great  devastation  experienced  in  1.S71,  whi(;h  was  the 
only  one  in  that  region  that  they  seemed  to  know  anything  about.  No 
information  came  to  nie  either  from  the  ollicers  of  the  experiment 
station  at  Logan,  the  State  fruit  tree  inspector  at  Salt  Lake  City, 
from  a  careful  perusal  of  the  tiles  of  the  State  papers,  nor  from  the 
numerous  lesidents  who  were  (piestioned,  that  there  was  any  damage 
done  this  season. 

1  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Ogden  two  lields  of  alfalfa  which  had  been 
])artially  destroyed  by  MvUinojdus  aiUmis  Iviley,  but  the  owners  had 
taken  prompt  action  in  the  matter  and  had  effectually  overcome  the 
i)est. 

Acridium  .sho.slione  Thos.  was  Ibund  damaging  i>rune  trees  to  a  slight 
extent  near  Salt  Lake  City,  at  Provo  and  luho.  These  are  the  sole 
cases  of  damage  that  have  come  to  my  notice,  and  are  of  \ cry  little 
importance. 

Inlbrmation  reached  me  that  hordes  of  Aii<(hn(s  sl)Hitli'.r  were  march- 
ing down  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Provo  River  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Park  City  aiul  had  done  considerable  damage.  In  that  region  such 
an  occurrence  is  liable  to  take  place  almost  any  season,  but  the  reports 
were  so  conflicting  that  it  was  not  deemed  best  to  mwke  a  special  Jour- 
ney on  this  account,  since  it  is  not  an  agricultural  region. 

It  is  somewhat  dillicult  to  understand  why  it  is  that  tlie  irrigated 
regions  in  Utah,  which  are  in  a  situation  practically  analogous  to  simi- 
lar regions  in  Cohu-ado,  and  in  \vhi('li  the  meteorological  conditions  are 


49 

much  the  same,  have  not  been  severely  daiiiaj^iMl  by  tlie  native  loensts, 
jis  has  been  the  case  in  the  hitter  region.  'IMie  exphmation,  it  secuns, 
lies  in  the  more  thoronji^ii  system  of  enltivation  and  in  the  praetiet;  of 
enttin<;-  the  grass  ah)ng  the  irrigating  ditelies,  thongh  probably  several 
other  factors  have  combined  to  bring  about  the  result. 

IDAHO. 

Specimens  of  the  l\ocky  Mountain  locust  were  captured  at  i'ocatello 
and  at  American  Falls.  In  the  table-lands  west  of  IN)catello  and  to 
the  h'ft  of  the  Port  Neuf  liiver  numerous  sjx'cinuMis  of  s]}refns,  which 
had  bred  in  the  valley,  were  found  coUected  and  x)reparing  to  migrate. 
A  strip  about  one-half  mile  wide  by  nearly  a  mile  long  was  i)racti- 
cally  covered  Avith  them.  The  1st  day  of  Septend)er,  the  wind  having 
been  unfavorable  for  several  days,  but  having  now^  changed,  they  arose 
and,  ('ollecting  in  a  rather  compact  mass,  disapi)eared  in  a  northeasterly 
direction.  After  they  had  left,  where  thousands  had  been  seen  before  not 
one  was  to  be  found.  Search  was  made  for  eggs,  but  none  were  found; 
nor  were  any  females  seen  in  the  act  of  depositing  them.  The  only 
subsequent  trace  of  this  swarm  that  I  have  been  able  to  find  was  con- 
veyed in  the  information  given  me  by  a  ranchman  who  came  from  near 
Eagle  Rock.  He  stated  that  on  the  same  day  (September  1)  he  had 
seen  a  swarm  of  locusts  a  few  miles  north  of  Blackfoot,  passing  to  the 
northeast.  Probably  the  destination  of  this  swarm  was  the  head- 
waters of  the  Snake  Eiver,  in  northwestern  Wyoming.  They  caused 
no  danuige  in  the  vicinity  of  their  starting  point,  for  it  was  not  an  agri- 
cultural or  a  grazing  country,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  they  reached 
a  country  in  which  they  could  do  much  damage.  It  is  altogether  likely 
that  this  swarm,  which  was  the  only  one  at  all  of  formidable  proportions, 
will  be  heard  of  next  year,  though  its  present  whereabouts  is  not  known. 

The  native  species  have  not  been  much  in  evidence;  the  oidy  case  of 
damage  was  reported  from  near  Nampa,  and  was  caused  to  young  [)rune 
trees  by  Acridinm  shoshone.  They  had  been  damaged,  it  was  said,  to 
the  extent  of  several  hundred  dollars. 

At  various  times  information  as  to  hordes  of  western  crickets  (Ana- 
brus)  was  reported  to  me  while  passing  through  this  region.  They  had 
reference  in  most  cases  to  inaccessible  regions,  and  were  not  in  many 
cases  to  be  relied  upon.  One  of  these  reports  came  from  Hailey,  but  I 
have  received  information  of  a  rather  contrary  character  from  the  resi- 
dents.    Another  report  of  the  same  nature  came  from  Challis. 

OllEGOT^   AND    WASIIIN(i1\)N. 

These  States  were  not  included  directly  in  my  letter  of  instructions, 
but  reports  of  damage  in  accessible  points  led  me  to  visit  certain  local- 
ities in  the  eastern  i:>ortion  of  them.  From  reports  given  me  by  resi- 
dents, it  appears  that  for  the  last  three  years  the  wheat  growers, 
especially  in  Wasco,  Umatilla,  Union,  and  Baker  counties  in  Oregon,  and 
11930— No.  10 4 


50 

Yakima,  I'raiikliii,  Adams,  and  VVhitinaii  counties  in  Washiujj^ton,  have 
suft'ered  to  a  ^real  extent  liom  deN  astations  by  locusts.  The  \  ieinity 
of  Kit/ville  seemed  to  liave  suflered  most  of  all.  Mr.  A.  S.  Newton,  of 
that  place,  informs  mc  that  for  two  years  the  total  acreage  of  wheat  has 
been  injured  to  the  extent  that  only  half  a  croj*  has  been  harvested. 

Mcl(nn>j)his  sju'ctn.s  was  taken  at  all  j)oints  in  this  State  where  stops 
were  made,  but  in  rather  few  numbers.  However,  in  the  northern  part 
of  Adams  County,  in  Washington,  it  was  the  sole  species  concerned  in 
the  damaj:*'. 

M.  J'cnnir-ruhrnm  lias  done  by  far  the  greater  shaie  of  the  injury, 
though  .1/.  (ithniis  has  also  been  very  numerous.  The  injury  that  has 
been  done  by  these  species  in  these  regions  has  been  as  great  as  has 
been  done  in  any  i)art  of  Colorado  duriu^  the  past  season,  though  the 
conditions  are  entirely  different  in  tiie  two  regions.  Parasites,  mites, 
and  ru(h'nii(hv  were  very  numerous  and  were  fast  decreasing  the  num- 
ber of  locusts,  in  many  cases  this  al)undance,  with  an  extremely  wet 
fall,  will  have  the  eti'eet  of  materially  decreasing  the  number  of  locusts 
appearing  next  season.  Early  in  Septend)er  the  rainy  season  began 
before  much  of  the  wheat  was  cut,  and  prevailing  cold  rains  continued 
for  several  weeks.  This  was  Just  in  time  to  interfere  with  the  deposit- 
ing of  eggs,  and  furthermore  had  a  very  demoralizing  efiect  on  the 
locusts.  Large  numbers  were  found  huddled  together,  many  dead,  and 
the  remainder  weakened  by  the  cold  and  attacks  of  fungus  diseases. 
These  fungus  diseases,  if  it  were  not  lor  the  cold,  would  have  si)read 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  exterminate  the  pests.  Conditions  here  are  so 
entirely  ditferent  from  those  in  Colorado  that  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the 
pest  is  on  a  decline,  although  it  will  by  no  means  have  disappeared  by 
next  season.     Professor  Cordley  is  of  this  same  opinion. 

In  Oregon  several  localities  in  the  Grande  and  Cmatilla  valleys 
have  sutlered  in  the  past  few  years  from  crickets,  but,  as  lar  as  I  could 
ascertain,  not  this  season.  There  was  one  such  case  last  year  near 
Seneca  and  another  near  Pilot  Kock. 

MONTANA. 

The  only  stop  made  in  this  State  was  at  Helena,  where,  a  few  miles 
up  the  Last  Chance  Gulch,  several  specimens  of  Melanophts  aprctus  were 
collected,  the  only  species  of  Orthoptera  in  evidence.  I  was  informed 
by  Mr.  A.  I.  Sanderson,  of  Helena,  who  has  traveled  in  all  i)arts  of  the 
State  this  season,  by  wagon  from  Miles  City  to  Livingston,  that  he  had 
not  seen  or  heard  of  an  undue  prevalence  of  locusts  in  any  part  of  the 
State.  Mr.  P.  A.  Pydberg,  agent  of  the  Division  of  liotany,  who  in 
duly  and  August  covered  thoroughly  the  region  between  Bozemau, 
Livingston,  and  Yellowstone  Park,  rei)orted  that  the  nund)er  of  locusts 
seemed  less  thaji  in  i)revious  years  when  he  had  traversed  the  same 
territory.     A  well  informed  ranchman  from  the  valley  of  the  Madison, 


51 

\ylieie,  if  at  any  place  in  tlio  State,  sprrtus  woulil  probably  be  found, 
informed  uie  that  dnrin«;-  his  residence  of  six  years  in  tlnit  vicinity  he 
had  not  heard  of  any  damage  whatever  bcini^  (h)nc  1)\  locusts. 

WYOMING. 

Specimens  of  Koclvy  Mountain  locusts  {Melanoph(s  sprrfus)  were  col- 
lected at  Slieridan,  Cheyenne,  Kawlins,  (Ireen  liiver,  and  l-A'anston. 
The  only  one  of  these  districts  in  which  they  were  oveiiiumerons  was 
near  Sheridan  on  the  foothills  of  the  Big-  Horn  Mountains,  where  an 
area  of  something-  like  UOO  acres  was  almost  covered  with  them.  This 
was  early  in  September,  and  they  were  preparing  to  deposit  their  eggs. 
Lack  of  time  prevented  ascertaining  whether  other  isolated  areas  in 
this  region  were  similarly  affected.  However,  from  the  reports  that  I 
invariably  received  from  residents,  I  am  brought  to  believe  that  along 
the  foothills  of  the  Big  Horn  Mountains  there  are  areas,  like  the  one 
mentioned  above,  in  which  Hpretus  has  hatched  in  the  i^ast  few  years  in 
great  numbers.  I  think  that  here  is  the  origin  of  the  swarms  that 
have  in  jirevious  years  invaded  i^ortions  of  South  Dakota  and  i^ebraska. 

M.  (idani.s  was  numerous  at  Evanston  in  company  with /em  «r-r///>rt<m. 
I  found  these  species  destroying  the  range  grass  near  Doughis,  as  was 
the  case  in  the  adjoining  regions  of  Nebraska.  They  did  not  reach  far 
west  of  that  point. 

Anahrus  simplex^  or  a  nearly  allied  species  of  Western  cricket,  was 
reported  as  very  numerous  by  a  ranchman  who  rode  into  Sheridan  from 
a  i)oint  near  the  nioutli  of  Shell  Creek  in  tlie  Big  Horn  Basin.  He  said 
that  he  had  seen  droves  of  them  collected  on  the  banks  of  the  above- 
mentioned  stream  i)reparing  to  cross  to  the  south.  I  was  unable  to 
obtain  specimens,  and  could  gather  no  further  information  on  this  point. 

Generally,  this  State  seems  to  have  been  but  very  little  affected.  I 
am  informed  by  the  officers  of  the  Exi^eriment  Station  at  Laramie  that 
no  cases  of  damage  have  been  reported  to  them  this  season.  The  only 
imi^ortant  observation  is  in  the  appearance  of  spretas  in  considerable 
numbers  west  and  north  of  Sheridan. 

SOUTH   DAKOTA. 

The  situation  in  this  State  regarding  Melanoplus  si^retns  has  been 
more  serious  than  elsewhere.  It  was  impossible  to  visit  the  counties 
most  seriously  affected,  but  Mr.  Saunders,  of  the  Ex])eriment  Station 
at  Brookings,  has  given  me  reliable  information  on  this  point.  Eeport 
was  received  early  in  June  from  Mr.  H.  S.  Wright,  of  Chamberlain, 
stating  that  the  farmers  were  very  much  excited  by  the  prospect  of 
much  damage  being  done  by  the  young  locusts  which  had  just  appeared. 
From  this  source  and  from  other  information  received  it  seems  that 
more  than  the  western  half  and  a  few  of  the  northeastern  counties  have 
been  affected.  The  valleys  of  the  Moreau,  Cheyenne,  and  Missouri 
rivers  have  been  affected  in  the  same  manner  as  regions  in  Is^ebraska  j 


i.  e.,  in  isolated  areas.  Most  attention  lias  been  drawn,  however,  to 
the  several  connties  near  8i)hinx  County  and  a  re«iion  about  (liainber- 
laiii.  in  lirule  County,  as  a  center. 

M.sj})'rtus  was  resi)onsible  for  the  larger  i)art  of  the  injury.  Strict 
measures  were  taken  by  Mr.  Saunders,  especially  in  the  i'ormer  regions, 
and  he  rep(»rts  that  he  has  succeeded  in  checkin«4:  the  pest  to  a  hirge 
extent.  'i'heori«;in  of  these  South  Dakota  swarms  has  been  accounted 
for.  They  arrived  early  in  September  last  year  from  northeastern 
Wyomin«;-  and  were  assisted  at  that  time  by  favorable  winds. 

As  in  Nebraska,  native  species  have  been  very  numerous  and  have 
occurred  indis(;riminately  with  sprctus  at  all  points.  M.  feuinrruhnnn, 
M.  (ithatis^  and  .1/.  (lilfrniitialls  ha\'e  been  rei)resente(l  about  eipially. 

My  personal  ins  estimation  in  South  Dakota  was  contined  to  the  lilack 
Hills,  which  is  the  only  portion  of  the  State  easily  accessible  from  Lin- 
coln by  rail,  and  was  undertaken  mainly  on  account  of  a  newsi)ai)ei 
article  under  date  of  July  15.  This  article  stated  that  a  lary:e  region 
had  been  overrun  by  locusts  to  such  an  extent  that  ranchmen  were 
c()ini)ellc(l  to  move  their  herds  to  other  i)laces  and  that  all  crops 
were  bein«;-  destroyed.  Itegarding  this,  1  have  to  report  that  the  state- 
ment was  entirely  without  foundation.  Several  reliable  observers  who 
have  been  stationed  in  the  Hills  state  that  tliis  report  was  noticed  and 
commented  upon  by  the  people  of  the  Hills,  and  that  this  was  the  lirst 
intimation  that  they  had  received  of  such  an  occurrence.  Mr.  F.  D. 
Burr,  of  T^cad  City,  and  Mr.  A.  S.  Pearse,  of  Deadwood,  lM>th  of  whom 
traNcled  in  all  parts  of  the  Hills  during  June,  »July,  and  August,  rejiort 
that  no  cases  of  damage  came  to  their  notice.  I  consulted  newspaper 
men,  traveling  men,  and  tourists  by  dozens  and  found  that  none  of 
them  had  seen  any  damage  done  in  the  Hills.  Mr.  M.  C.  McCain, 
of  Kapid  ('ity,  gives  me  the  best  account  of  the  situation  in  this  i)art  of 
South  Dakota;  it  is  a|)pended  to  this  report.  I  was  unable  myself  to 
find  any  species  of  Ortli()i)tcra  abundant  here.  Only  one-half  dozen 
of  sjtrrtns  near  iMlginont  were  taken  and  other  species  were  corre- 
spondingly scarce. 

It  thus  apiK'ars  that,  excepting  the  Black  Hills  and  the  southeastern 
l)art.  the  State  has  been  locally  affected,  and  very  severely  in  some  cases. 
Unless  swarms  of  .s;^»T/<^^•  have  come  in  from  the  l)ig  Horn  Mountain 
region,  which  I  ha\e  been  unable  to  ascertain,  but  which  seems 
inii)rol)able,  the  situation  in  South  Dakota  next  year  is  \ery  easily 
forecasted;  .sprctus  will' be  a  great  deal  less  abundant,  though  the 
native  species  will  be  as  nunu'rous  as  they  have  been  this  season. 

«UMMAKY. 

Jx((/<i)(U)i(j  fhc  Iiocki/  Minmtuhi  locust. — There  was,  this  season,  a  gen- 
eral activity  of  this  si)ecies  throughout  the  i)ermanent  breeding  region 
greater  than  for  any  tinu'  for  immy  years.  This  was  brought  about  by 
a  series  of  dry  years,  which  have  resulted  in  the  abandonment  of  farm- 


J 


53 

iiio'  ill  inaiiy  places.  Tlicre  lias  been  an  astonisliinf]^  exodus  from  these 
regions  of  settlers  who  ninst  be  (convinced  by  painful  (experience  tlnit 
the  promises  of  spring-  are  liable  to  give  way  to  desert  like  dryness  in 
summer.  It  is,  of  course,  well  undt^rstood  that  the  absen<'e  of  serious 
damage  since  187(5  has  been  i)artially  due  to  the  settling  up  of  the 
valleys  in  the  permanent  region.  The  abandoning  of  large  parts  of 
this  region  thus  seems  to  have  a  definite  and  easily  ex))lainable  relation 
to  this  occurrence.  I  wish  to  make  it  clear,  however,  tliat  the  di'yness 
is  the  primary  and  the  abandoning  a  secondary  (;ause. 

The  spec'ies  has  been  present  in  general  in  northeastern  Wyoming, 
the  larger  part  of  South  Dakota,  and  northern  half  and  western  third 
of  jN'ebraska.  In  some  of  these  regions,  especially  in  South  Dakota, 
the  situation  became  very  serious  indeed. 

The  swarms  mentioned,  with  the  exception  of  the  one  in  the  Snake 
Eiver  regiou,  have  moved  southward  about  UOO  miles,  and  naturally  on 
account  of  their  sojourn  in  the  subpermanent  region  under  unfavorable 
conditions  have  become  weakened,  as  shown  by  the  return  flight.  There 
has  been  no  fresh  invasion  from  the  permanent  regions.  Therefore  this 
species  will  occur  in  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  and  northern  Kansas 
next  season,  but  the  damage  w  ill  be  less  noticeable  than  that  done  this 
season. 

Ixegarding  the  non-migratory  species. — The  past  season  has  been  one 
of  unusual  abundance  and  of  consequent  damage  in  South  Dakota, 
jSTebraska,  and  parts  of  Oregon  and  Washington;  the  normal  amount 
of  danuige  in  Colorado  and  of  less  than  the  normal  amount  in  Wyoming 
and  Montana.  The  species  concerned  are  numerous  and  the  conditions 
so  diverse  that  it  seems  hazardous  to  make  a  general  statement  regard- 
ing the  situation  next  season.  However,  I  believe  I  may  state  that  it 
seems  certain  that  the  exceedingly  damp  season  in  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington, interfering  with  egg  depositing,  and  the  abundance  of  parasites 
will  reduce  the  number  of  locusts  materially.  In  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
the  effects  of  a  wet  spring  have  been  counteracted  by  the  opposite 
effect  of  a  favorable  season  for  egg  depositing.  Hence,  allowing  for 
the  natural  increase  of  parasites,  the  situation  here  next  season  will  be 
neither  better  nor  worse.  In  Colorado  the  situation  will  be  the  same 
next  year  and  further,  as  long  as  present  practices  i)ersist. 

Acridium  shoshone  Thos.  has  been  found  increasing  in  the  fruit-raising 
district  of  the  (irand  lliver  Valley  in  Colorado. 

IHssosteira  lougipennis  Thos.  has  not  kept  pace  with  the  other  species, 
and  it  appears  that  the  former  seeming  indications  of  its  becoming 
important  are  not  to  be  fulfilled. 

Hippiscus  corallipes  Hald.  has  become  numerous  enough  to  cause 
damage,  and  seems  to  be  on  the  increase. 


54 
INSECTS  THAT  AFFECT  ASPARAGUS. 

Jiy   F.   H.  CiinTKNDKN. 

Since  the  ])]eparati()n  for  implication  in  the  Yearbook  of  the  Denart- 
iiieiit  of  Agriculture  for  1S<M>  of  the  writer's  article  entitled  ''The 
Asparaj^riis  Beetles,''  observations  have  been  continued  on  these  two 
sj)ecies  of  ('rioceris,  i>articular  attention  beinj:  directed  toward  C.  12- 
pKHctatd,  as  its  life  eccuionjy  has  not  been  fully  understood.  Sucli  other 
species  of  insects  as  have  been  observed  on  asparagus  in  the  present  as 
well  as  in  past  years  have  also  received  attention  and  the  results  are 
embodied  in  the  i)resent  i)aper. 

Few  inii)orted  plants  enjoy  so  nearly  complete  immunity  from  the 
attacks  of  natixc  insects  as  does  asi)ara<,ais.  Its  folia«,^e  is  sutticiently 
succulent  an<l  palatable  to  suit  the  taste  of  many  insects,  but  it  is  not 
apparently  i)referred  to  other  older  and  more  natural  food  plants. 
Such  insects  as  have  been  found  feedin<^  ui)<)n  this  phmt  ai)]»ear  to  eat 
it  with  perfect  relish,  and  several  species  are  of  almost  constant  occur- 
rence in  as]>aragus  beds  wherever  the  phnit  is  cultivated. 

In  the  })reparation  of  this  artich'  an  effort  has  been  inach'  to  include 
every  sjK'cies  of  native  insect  that  is  known  to  attack  the  asi)ara«,ais, 
and  it  embraces  some  few  brief  references  to  Kuroi)ean  species  that 
infest  this  plant,  as  it  is  from  the  insects  that  feed  natnrallj'  upon 
asi)aragus  that  we  look  for  troublesome  forms. 

THE   COMMON   ASPAKAGUS   IJEETLE. 
(Crioceris  nsporagi  Linn.) 

The  time  of  earliest  appearance  of  this  species  in  a  locahty,  appears 
to  be  directly  limited  to  its  food  sui)ply.  Thus,  during  the  spring  of 
1.S97  it  was  not  found  at  Cabin  John  Bridge,  ^laryland,  until  the 
appearance  of  the  asparagus  shoots  in  the  beds  in  the  last  week  in 
April;  and  larva*.  Just  hatched,  were  not  noticed  till  the  second  week 
of  ^lay,  while  the  same  week  larva*  nearly  mature  were  observed  at 
Suitsville,  Md.,  both  localities  within  live  miles  of  the  District  of 
Columbia.  At  Suitsville  the  lirst  adults  of  the  new  brood  undoubtedly 
ai)peared  in  May,  and  under  ordinary  conditions  this  brood  appears 
during  the  latter  half  of  the  month  in  the  latitude  of  the  District 
of  Columbia.  The  beetles  disappeared  for  hibernation  some  time  in 
Septemijer. 

It  was  noticed  this  year  that,  although  the  eggs  are  deposited  chiefly 
upon  young  and  tender  i»lants  on  all  i)arts  of  a  i)lant,  ovii)ositi()n 
apparently  occurs  early  in  the  season  and  upon  later  young  growths, 
in  which  respect  it  dilVers  from  C.  J i^ punctata^  and  that  the  unopened 
buds  are  the  favorite  place  for  egg  deposit.  Often  a  bud  is  found  with 
a  single  egg  ujion  it,  and  more  often  a  row  will  extend  from  this  down 
the  bud  stem.  As  many  as  eleven  have  more  than  once  been  observed 
in  these  rows.     It  is  not  a  normal  habit  to  place  one  egg  upon  the  end 


55 

of  aiiotljer,  but  this  not  infroquontly  liapixMis.  Mnvh  loss  freqiKMilly 
tbe  eg'^s  are  deposited  on  other  portions  of  tlie  phiiit — th(^  main  stem, 
branches,  and  leaves.  I'^ggs,  it  is  well  known,  will  be  placed  on  market 
shoots  when  other  portions  of  the  i)lant  are  not  available  for  their 
reception. 

PREBACEOUS  ENEMIES. 

In  tlie  Yearbook  article,  in  the  chapter  on  ''Natural  checks,''  the 
writer  called  attention  to  the  fact  that,  for  some  unexplained  reason, 
authors  of  economic  articles  in  entomology  had  paid  no  notice  to 
the  natural  enemies  of  the  asparagus  beetles,  only  a  single  species, 
doubtfully  believed  to  have  been  Myoh'in  pumila,  having  been  recorded 
as  attacking  Crioceris  asparagi  in  this  country  i^rior  to  the  year  1890. 

Observations  conducted  in  the  neighborhood  of  Washington  indicate 
that  the  natural  enemies  of  this  species  have  practically  no  effect  on 
the  first  generation  of  larvie. 

The  spotted  ladybird  {Megilla  maculata  DeG.),  during  the  season  of 
1890,  was  found  to  have  been  the  most  eftective  destroyer  of  asparagus- 
beetle  larvic;  in  fact,  it  was  chiefly  through  the  abundance  and  activity 
of  that  ladybird  that  the  last  observed  generation  of  asparagus  beetles 
was  apparently  killed  off  upon  the  grounds  of  the  Department.  The 
present  season  M.  maculata  was  rarely  met  with,  while  the  convergent 
ladybird,  Hlppodamia  convergens^  that  had  been  rare  the  previous  sea- 
son, occurred  in  great  numbers,  and  appeared  to  have  killed  off  the 
asparagi  larvse  of  the  first  brood  on  the  Department  plat  in  the  same 
manner  that  the  other  ladybird  had  done  the  year  x)reviously. 

In  the  course  of  rearing  the  larvai  of  M.  maculata  observations  on 
periods  in  the  development  of  the  species  were  made.  One  individual 
was  found  to  have  x)upated.at  8.30  a.  m.,  August  4,  having  the  appear- 
ance of  having  transformed  at  least  an  hour  earlier.  August  7,  at  9 
a.  m.,  the  adult  was  found  almost  fully  colored,  evidently  having  trans- 
formed several  hours  before,  indicating  the  minimum  period  at  a  little 
less  than  three  days.  A  second  pupated  August  5  in  the  afternoon, 
and  was  found  transformed  and  fully  colored  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th.  A  third  had  not  transformed  to  pupa  at  5  p.  m.  August  5,  and 
the  adult  insect,  fully  colored,  was  found  at  3.30  p.  m.  August  8. 

The  beetles  appear  occasionally  to  eat  the  pollen  of  asjiaragus. 

The  convergent  ladybird  {Hlppodamia  convergens  Guer.). — A  larva 
of  this  species  taken  on  the  morning  of  August  1,  1890,  devouring  a 
Crioceris  grub  on  the  Department  grounds,  transformed  to  pupa 
August  0,  and  to  adult  on  the  morning  of  August  8,  the  pni)al  period 
having  been  less  than  three  days.     Temi^erature  85  to  92°  F. 

Collops  4-maculatus  Fab. — In  several  lots  of  asparagus  beetles 
received  at  this  office  this  little  malachiid  beetle  was  present.  It  was 
to  be  seen  on  every  bed  of  asj^aragus  that  came  under  our  observation, 
and  always,  too,  when  the  asparagus  beetles  bred  most  plentifully,  but 


56 

in  spite  of  tho  rlosost  ol)8ervatioii  could  not  l)e  detected  attackiiij^  the 
Cridceris.  In  conlineinent  tlie  Collops  beetle  feed  freely  on  ))oth  larvie 
and  e^jr>^  of  (Jricureris. 

The  bordered  i)lant  bug  (Stirctrus  (inchordf/o  I'ab.). — An  indi\  idual  of 
this  ])entatonii<l,  i)erhaps  three  fourths  j^rown,  was  taken  Au;iust  1  at 
M;irsh:ill  Mall,  M<1.,  with  aCrioceris  larva  transfixed  upon  its  probos 
cis.     Others  weic  seen  upon  the  asparajrus,  and  one  kept  in  confine 
nient  fed  \  <»r;i<i(Hisly  u|)<)ii  tlie  hirva*  of  the  asparaji:us  b<*etle  an<l  those 
of  (inlvrutrUd  lutcola  Miill.,  tlie  imported  elm  leaf  beetle. 

August  t  the  cajjtiN'e  specimen,  after  having  devoured  two  Crioceris 
larva,  was  sui)plied  with  another  u|>on  a  spray  of  asparagus.  After 
abstracting  all  the  Juices  from  the  hirva  it  at  once  sunk  its  beak  into 
the  asparagus.  While  engaged  in  this  operation  an  elm  leaf-beetle 
larva  was  inserted,  which  the  bug  found  almost  as  soon  as  it  withdrew 
its  proboscis  from  the  asparagus. 

This  species  ai)pears  to  have  a  predilection  for  coleopterous  larva*. 
On  the  Department  of  Agri'.ulture  grounds  the  writer  has  seen  it  prey- 
ing ui>()ii  the  larva'  of  the  Colorado  potato  beetle,  and  Townend  (Hover 
notiied  the  same  thing  upwards  of  twenty  years  ago.  The  same  writer 
observes  of  this  species,  which  he  memtions  both  as  dinud  nwd  timhri- 
(lins  (lJe]»ort  Oonnn.  Agr.  Ibr  1875,  pp.  lis,  lIOi,  that  it  was  found  in 
.Maryland  busily  emi)loyed  in  killing  and  sucking  out  the  juices  of  the 
s(|iinsh  ladyl)ird  [Epibtchud  horrtdis).  The  writer  has  also  seen  this 
bug  ])reying  upon  the  larva*,  and  Mr.  K.  A.  Schwar/  has  observed  it 
attacking  the  pui)a,  of  the  elm  leaf  beetle  in  the  ojjen. 

'J'he  spincd  soldier  bug  {Podisus  s))in()sifs  Dall.). —  Among  the  twelve- 
spotted  sjx'cies  brought  to  this  othce  from  Oxon  Hill,  .Md.,  was  a  larva 
of  tliis  s])ecies.  It  was  kept  in  the  Jar  with  tlie  beetles  for  a  few  «lays, 
and  was  seen  with  a  beetle  suspended  from  its  beak'.  This  bug  was 
often  seen  on  as])aragus  destroying  the  larvic  of  the  common  asi);iragus 
beetles  by  impaling  them  on  its  ])roboscis  and  sucking  up  their  vital 
fluids. 

It  is  somewhat  surj)rising  how  an  insect  so  slow  of  movenient  as  is 
this  soldiei"  bug  can  ca[)ture  much  more  active  s]>ecies,  August  2  an 
individual  was  seen  at  Marshall  Hall,  ^Id.,  with  the  adult  of  h'tsoinicha 
(/I<ihr(((((j  a  flea  beetle  that  commonly  infests  the  pigweed. 

J*o}isfes  palUjH'H  St.  I'^arg. — Different  individuals  of  this  wasp  had 
been  noticed  Hying  about  the  asparagus  i)lants  on  the  Department 
grounds  during  July.  On  the  2Sth  of  this  month  a  wasj)  was  seen  with 
a  nearly  grown  larva  in  its  mouth,  and  a  second  individual  was  watched 
as  it  flew  leisurely  about  the  infested  jdants  in  search  of  a  larva.  This 
found,  the  wasj)  seized  it  in  its  jaws  and  flew  away.  A  third  wasp 
seized  a  larva  near  the  anus  that  clung  tenaci>)usly  to  the  i)lant  and 
re<juired  a  considerable  effort  for  its  dislodgment.  Subscipiently  other 
wasps  weiM'  noticed  in  \arious  localities  i)reyiiig  upon  the  larv:e,  which 


r)7 

they  usually  cliowod  ii])  before  \\y\u<x  Tar.  The  D('i)}irtnK']it  aspara^nis 
])atcli  was  seldom  Tree  IVoiii  the  wasps,  which  never  left  (he  plants  witli- 
oiit  seciirinj?  a  victim. 

XeludloKi  {A(/rii}n)  positit  Ilaiien. — Specimens  of  this  little  draj^on- 
Hy  were  noticed  durin«i'  »luly  tlyin^-  jiboiit  (3rioceris-in Tested  i>hints,  and 
one  that  was  watched  Hew  into  the  asparagus  pat(*h  and  seize(l  a  small 
larva  and  tlew  oft'  with  it. 

Calocoris  cheuopodli,  a  l^'uro])ean  cai)si(l  bu.u-,  lias  been  noticed  1).\  II. 
Lucas  (see  lusect  Life,  Vol.  1,  ]).  (U)  suclvin<;-  the  larxa  of  (Jriix-cris 
asparagi  in  France.  (\  rajndus,  a  comuion  uative  sj)ecies,  is  not  uncom 
mon  in  asparagus  beds  here. 

Mf/ohid  ptnuUd,  Mac(].,  a  I^hiropean  tachinid,  appears  to  be  the  only 
l)arasitic  enemy  known  to  affect  (Jrioceris.  It  develops  in  the  Crioceris 
larva,  but  is  not  known  to  occur  in  this  country.  In  Euro])e  it  is 
believed  to  be  an  important  factor  in  reducing  the  numbers  of  its  host 
(L  c,  pp.  02,  03). 

THE    TWELVE-SPOTTI^^I)   ASPARA(;US   BEETLE. 

(Crioceris  IJ-punciata  Linn.) 

This  species  did  not  appear  at  Cabin  John,  Md.,  until  the  first  week 
of  May,  a  Aveek  later  than  the  common  species,  and  even  then  Avas 
found  in  only  small  numbers.  This  may  or  liiay  not  have  any  signifi- 
cance, but  it  is  not  irai^robable  considering  the  habits  of  these  beetles 
that  the  common  species  is  habitually  the  earlier  arrival. 

Tlie  end  ^^^^^  oviposition. — In  previous  years  nothing  was  learned  of 
the  oviposition  of  this  species.  Captured  beetles  refused  to  lay  when 
confined  for  the  purpose,  and  the  eggs  could  not  be  found  in  the  field. 
The  i)resent  year  yielded  better  success.  Eggs  were  not  found  until 
nearly  a  month  after  the  first  api)earauce  of  the  beetle,  and  it  is  possible 
that  the  beetles  wait  some  time  for  the  development  of  the  berries 
before  depositing  on  them,  since  the  first  eggs  were  observed  May  31. 
These  were  laid  on  their  sides  in  a  vial  in  which  a  female  had  been 
placed.  Subsequently  eggs  were  obtained  in  jars  containing  fresh 
sprays  of  asparagus,  and  still  later  in  the  experimental  beds  connected 
with  this  office. 

The  eggs  are  deposited  singly  and  by  preference  upon  old  plants, 
toward  the  ends  of  shoots  which  lower  down  bear  ripening  berries. 
They  are  always  attached  along  their  sides  instead  of  at  one  end,  as  is 
the  case  with  (/.  asparagl;  not  infrequently  by  two  sides,  so  that  the  eg^ 
lies  between  two  leaves;  but  more  often  they  are  attached  along  one 
side  only.  The  total  number  deposited  by  a  single  individual  is  prob- 
ably the  same,  as  is  also  the  number  deposited  at  one  time  of  deposi- 
tion. A  female  kept  over  night  had  deposited  9  eggs,  evidently  all 
within  a  short  time  of  each  other,  judging  by  their  appearance.     One 


58 


female  was  seen  in  tlie  act  of  oviposition  just  before  dusk  and  another 
one  in  the  morning-. 

The  ej^tj  of  Criocerin  l:3-punctai(i  is  of  about  tJie  same  proportion  as 
tliat  of  C.  fispanif/i^  bein«r  just  jjerceptibly  more  tlian  2A  times  as  lon*( 
as\vi(h',  but  it  dilfers  in  bein-,^  nearly  sinnoth  and  sliining,  without  ap- 
parent sculpturi'  (as  viewed  uiulrr  a  moderately  higli  objective),  and  in 
bein;;  pointedly  rounded  at  eacli  end.  It  is  attaeiied  to  the  plant  at  its 
side  ami  at  the  side  or  sides  of  attachment  is  more  or  less  tiattened  and 
roughly  rugose,  according  t4)  the  shape  of  the  plant  where  it  is  attached. 
In  color  it  is  nearly  the  sanu*  as  aspanKji,  but  a  sha<le  lighter.     Length, 

1  to  1.1'"".;   widtli,  0.4' 

In  the  accompanying  illustration  the  (i^^g  is  shown  much  enlarged  on 
the  left,  and  initural  size  upon  the  ])lant  at  the  right. 

Tlie  i'^jr<i  wiien   first  laid  is  milk  white,  with  a  yellowish  tint,  but  it 
soon  afterwards  takes  on  a  greenish  shade  which  later  changes  to  brown- 
isli  olive.     The  eggs  of  this  species  a])])ear  to  require 
longer   lor  attaining   full   coloring  than  is  the  case 
with  C.  aspanu/i. 

X<tfcs  on  the  insecfs  life  habits. — A  larva,  nearly  full 
grown,  was  found  crawling  rajiidly  about  on  the  office 
exi)erimental  bed  June  1(>,  at  10  a.  m.  It  was  pro- 
vided with  a  sprig  of  asi)aragu8  bearing  berries,  and 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  later  was  working  its  way  into 
one  of  them.  The  following  morning  it  was  fouml  to 
have  entered  the  berry.  Twenty-four  hours  later  it 
had  almost  completely  hollowed  out  the  berry,  and  a 
a  fresh  one  was  given  it.  At  12  o'clock,  or  two  hours 
later,  the  larva  had  issued  from  the  first  berry  and  a 
noticeable  increase  in  its  size  was  apparent.  An  hour  later  it  entered 
the  earth,  showing  it  to  have  been  full  grown. 

The  bud  was  now  examined,  and  only  the  rather  thick  outer  skin,  the 
stem,  and  a  portion  of  the  pulp,  all  of  which  had  been  masticated  and 
evidently  passed  by  the  beetle,  remained.  In  the  single  day  that  the 
larva  had  worked  upon  this  berry  it  had  entered,  excavated,  and  evi- 
dently devoured  its  entire  interior,  having  broken  down  the  cell  walls 
and  eaten  the  six  seeds  ami  chewed  up  and  probably  swallowed  the 
pulj),  leaving  nothing  but  the  skin  and  stem. 

A  larva  that  had  left  an  asparagus  berry  found  at  Cabin  John.  Md., 
June  7,  had  formed  its  cocoon  June  1(1.  For  three  days  it  was  noticed 
still  in  the  larva  tbrm.  June  iM  it  had  transtbrmed  to  pupa,  and  on  the 
30th  the  imago  appeared.  A  second  larva,  from  the  office  bed  June  18, 
entered  the  earth  soon  afterwards,  and  the  beetle  was  found  trying  to 
cut  ifs  way  out  from  its  cocoon  July  .*i. 

The  normal  <late  of  ai)pearance  of  the  first  new  generation  cannot  be 
given,  but  about  NN'ashington  it  is  some  time  in  June,  and  i)erhaps  as 
early  as  .lune  15  in  earlier  seasons  than  the  present. 


Fio.  15.—  Oriocervt  12- 
puuctata:  c^iji.  natural 
size,  on  a. spa  raj;  us 
leaves  at  riglit :  sanu-, 
enlarged,  at  l»'ft  (origi- 
nal). 


59 

Periods  in  fhc  insccfs  life  ci/cle. — The  oxporiinoiitjil  ]>lats  at  tlio  T)o- 
partment  were  not  a  comi)lete  success,  iiiid  as  aconstMnienceexpeiiniciits 
oil  them  were  not  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  first  beetles  liberated  on  these  plats  were  either  not  satislied  with 
their  snrroundin<;s  i)V  were  molested  and  left,  and  attemi)ts  to  rear  tiie 
species  in  contiuement  were  only  partially  successful.  The  e^:^^  i)eriod  is 
without  doubt  the  same  as  that  of  (J.  Hspardf/i,  as  is  also  that  of  the  i)ui)a, 
but  the  larval  period  can  only  be  conjectured,  ^'^gg^  that  were  laid  June 
21,  in  moderately  cool  summer  weather,  hat(;hed  June  UG,  or  in  five  days. 

This  beetle  evideutly  goes  into  hibernation  at  about  the  same  time  as 
the  common  species,  i.  e.,  some  time  in  Septend)er,  as  no  specimens  Avere 
to  be  found  upon  the  i)lants  when  searched  for  during  the  latter  part  of 
that  month. 

.  The  species  feeds  normally  on  the  her rif. — The  adult  beetles  are  inju- 
rious to  asparagus  by  eating  tiie  heads  of  the  young  growing  shoots  in 
early  spring  and  perhaps  occasionally  attack  the  foliage  and  stems,  but 
aside  from  this  do  not,  in  the  writer's  experience,  attack  any  portion  of 
the  plant  but  the  berry  when  this  can  be  obtained.  The  newly  hatched 
larva,  it  is  i)resumed,  crawls  from  the  egg  to  burrow  into  the  nearest 
beriy,  and  leaves  this  again  only  to  enter  another.  The  berry  drops  off 
soon  after  the  larva  enters  it,  and  the  first  generation  of  the  beetle 
matures  long  before  the  berries  redden  on  the  plants. 

There  is  obviously  little  danger  of  this  species  being  troublesome, 
except  perhaps  to  seed-growers,  from  its  attack  on  asparagus  berries, 
as  the  plant  bears  quite  a  crop  of  fruit  after  the  beetles  have  gone  into 
winter  quarters. 

Two  European  beetles,  very  closely  related  to  the  twelve-spotted 
asparagus  beetle,  feed  upon  this  plant.  These  are  Crioceris  14-punciata 
Scop.,  an  inhabitant  of  western  Europe,  and  C.  5  punctata  Scop.,  which 
occurs  in  France,  Germany,  and  Eussia.  Neither  of  these  appears  to 
be  injurious  in  their  native  homes,  and  would  not  be  likely  to  prove 
troublesome  if  imported  into  America,  as  they  j^robably  have  the  same 
habit  as  12-pnnctata  of  living  upon  the  berries. 

The  larva  of  the  European  cockchafer  {Melolontha  ndfjaris  Fab.)  is 
said  to  injure  asparagus  roots. 

THE   TWELVE-SPOTTED    CUCUMBER   BEETLE. 

(Diahrotica  IJ-punctata  Ol.) 

Next  after  the  asparagus  beetles  and  the  ladybirds  this  is  the  most 
abundant  species  on  asparagus.  It  occurs  on  this  plant  everywhere 
and  throughout  the  season,  but  is  more  frequently  to  be  met  with  early 
in  the  j^ear  while  the  flowers  are  in  full  bloom  and  before  the  blooming 
of  the  favorite  food  plants  of  its  adult  stage — cucumbers,  squashes, 
and  the  like — but  in  the  latitude  of  Washington  returns  again  with  the 
later  flowering  of  asparagus,  which  this  year  was  most  noticeable  in 
new  shoots  in  the  latter  part  of  July.  It  has  an  especial  fondness  for 
the  blossoms,  which  the  beetles  gnaw  into  and  devour. 


CO 

LKPIDOPTERA   FOUND   ON  ASPARAGUS. 

What  IS  II  lu'ufotlier  insects  found  on  asparajrus  is  paitic  iilarly  true  of 
tluM-atcrpiilars  tliat  iiavt*  come  under  tiie  writer's  ]iers(Mial  observation. 
None  of  the  various  species  that  have  been  observed  occur  in  any  num- 
]K'r,and  evidence  is  wantiii<,^  toshow  tliatany  liavebred  from  theefrgand 
lived  upon  the  phuit  tlirou^h  tlieir  successive  molts  to  maturity.  Many 
of  the  species  that  will  be  mentioned,  however,  undoubtedly  are  able 
to  breed  ujxin  this  ])lant  ah  oro.  and  i)roba]>ly  do  so.  Such  lepi(h)pterous 
e«^«::s  as  have  been  found  upon  aspara;;us  have  l)een  i)lace<l  on  our 
experimental  l)e<ls,  Imt  always  with  nej^ative  results,  the  larva*  mi^rat- 
in«r  sooner  or  later.  Very  younj**  larva*  were  not  reared,  as  it  was  not 
deemed  matter  of  sufficient  importance  to  Justify  the  time  and  trouble. 

The  following-  list  includes  only  caterpillars  of  moths: 

The  sulphur  leaf-roller  (  Dirhclia  sulpJinrcana  Clem.) — The  larva  of 
this  tortricid  was  found  in  tube  like  silken  cases  composed  of  asparag:us 
leaves  and  webbing  May  .'U,  1S|>7,  at  Cabin  .John.  Md.,  and  subse- 
(juently  in  Sei)tember  near  Tennallytown,  D.  C.  From  tlie  latter  lot  a 
niotli  was  reared  October  4. 

One  of  the  larva'  from  Cabin  John  died  in  its  web.  June  Kl  a  i)ara- 
site  was  found  to  have  issued  from  it  and  spun  up  its  co<'oon,  from 
which  the  adult  issued  June  li4.  It  has  been  identified  by  Mr.  Ashmead 
as  li/if/ss((lns  airUrps  Aslnn. 

Mamrstra  }('(/itim((  Grote. —  Larva*  were  found  on  asj)aragus  at  .Mar- 
shall Hall,  Md.,  October  12,1890.  A  specimen  that  was  captured  and 
fed  upon  asparagus  entered  the  earth  and  formed  a  cell  for  ])upation 
November  U.  This  species  has  been  recorded  by  M  r.  F.  M.Webster  to  feed 
within  the  seed  pod  of  .l.sx7<'^/as  incarnata  (Insect  Life,  Vol..  1 1,  p.  382). 

l*r(Klv}iin  connNcliiur  S.  v^'  A. — A  full-grown  larva  was  taken  on  aspar- 
agus at  Colonial  IJeach,  Va.,  August  1),  181)0,  but  perished  of  a  bacterial 
disease.  Eggs  of  this  or  an  allied  species  were  found  upon  asparagus 
in  the  cit^'  of  Washington  .Vugust  10.  They  hatched  the  following  day. 
and  a  i)ortion  were  placed  on  asi)aragus  on  the  Department  beds,  but 
were  not  reared. 

Prodvnia  1i)ie(((ell(f  flaw. — A  larva  about  one-tliird  grown  was  brought 
in  from  Herwyn,  Md.,  August  8,  181MI,  by  3Ir.  Frank  Benton,  who  found 
it  on  an  asj)aragus  plant.  A  still  smaller  larva,  not  more  than  one-fifth 
grown,  was  found  on  the  asparagus  l)eds  on  the  l)e])artmer.t  grounds, 
Sej)tember  25,  181)0.  It  died  the  following  day,  evidently  of  the  same 
bacterial  disease  that  had  destroyed  its  congener. 

Tlie  corn  ear  worm  or  boll  worm  {ITcJiofhis  (O-migrr  llbn.). — This  juost 
omnivorous  of  caterpillars  was  seen  September  28,  1890,  at  Marshall 
Hall,  .M<1.,  freely  feeding  on  the  foliage  of  asparagus. 

The  ground  color  of  the  as])aragus-feeding  specimens  was  a  rich  dark 
green  and  atVorded  considerable  protection  to  the  cateri)illars  froni  the 
lack  of  contrast  to  their  food  plant.  Otlierwise  the  markings  were  the 
same  as   for  the   flesh  colored   and  purple  hucd    individuals  that  feed 


(il 

iiitenially  niton  corn,  tomjitoes,  beans,  etc.  Obvionsly  we  have  in  this 
species  an  external  and  an  internal-feedin<]:  coh)!*  variation. 

The  smeared  dai;iiei' ( .lc>-o////r/<r  ohlinild  S,  ».K:  A.) — A  lar\a  tiiree 
tentlis  of  an  inch  louix,  Wasiiin<;t()n,  1).  (J.,  July  1,  1S<)7.  The  tbnowiiifr 
day  it  molted  and  was  kept  tor  some  time  feedin*;-  on  asparagus,  but 
no  attempt  was  made  to  rear  it. 

The  salt-marsh  moth  {/.('uc((rc(ia  acnva  Dm.) — The  cateipillar  was 
brought  to  this  otliee  July  10,  1897,  from  Tennallytown,  1).  ('.,  with  the 
statement  that  it  was  feeding  on  asparagus  at  that  i)lace.  Sei)tend)er 
28  it  Avas  Ibuiid  upon  asparagus  at  Marshall  Hall,  .Md. 

Unknown  measuring  worm. — An  unknown  geometrid  was  several 
times-  taken  feeding  on  asi)aragus  and  in  dift'ercnt  localities,  but  the 
si)ecies  has  not  been  reared  beyond  the  pui)a. 

A  number  of  other  lepidoi)terous  larva'  have  been  observed  on  aspara- 
gus by  variouspersons,  someof  which  have  never  been  recorded.  Forcon- 
venience  they  will  be  considered  together,  and  will  only  be  briefly  noticed. 

Zebra  caterpillar  {Mamesfra  ])icta  Harr.). — '^Injuriously  abundant 
upon  cabbages,  as])aragus,"  etc.  (Fletcher,  Insect  Life,  Vol.  Y,  \). 
1U5).    Also  Divisional  Note. 

Clover  IVIamestra  {^^am<'strairifoli(  Ilott.). — On  asparagus  in  Euroiie, 
but  not  observed  on  this  plant  in  America  (Taschenberg,  Trak.  Insect 
enkunde,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  124).  The  European  M.  ohracea  and  jnst  also 
occur  on  asparagus  (1.  c). 

Black  (iu.t\\onn{A(jr  Otis  yj^silonBjOtt.). — Unpublished  Divisioiuil  Notes. 

Noctua  fennica  Tausch. — Asparagus  beds  injured  by  it  in  Canada 
(Fletcher,  Insect  Life,  Yol.  Ill,  p.  247). 

Eed-banded  leaf-roller  {Lophoderiis  triferana  Walk.). — Iveared  by 
Miss  M.  E.  Murtfeldt  from  asparagus  in  Missouri  in  1883.  (Divisional 
Notes.) 

PLANT-BUGS   AND   PLANT-LICE. 

Many  species  of  hemipterous  insects  have  been  found  upon  aspara- 
gus, but  the  present  list  comi^rises  only  such  as  the  writer  is  satistled 
actually  feed  upon  this  plant. 

The  tarnished  i)lant-bug  {Pwcilocapsus  lineatus  Fab.). — This  ubiqui- 
tous capsid  has  been  found  on  asparagus  in  nearly  every  locality  visited 
and  occurs  throughout  a  season.  It  is  a  most  difficult  species,  in  the 
writer's  experience,  to  detect  in  the  act  of  attacking  a  plant,  but  from 
its  numbers  on  asparagus  it  is  more  than  probable  that  it  subsists  to 
some  extent  on  this  plant. 

Lopidea  media  Say. — May  30, 1897,  numerous  individuals  of  this  cap- 
sid observed  at  Cabin  John,  Md.,  as  many  as  four  on  a  single  plant. 
All  the  bugs  appeared  to  be  sucking  up  the  juice  of  the  asparagus  with 
their  beaks.  A  natural  food  plant  of  this  species  on  which  it  occurred 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  asparagus  beds  where  first  observed  is 
the  common  yarrow  {Achillea  millefolium),  and  the  individuals  observed 
on  asparagus  were  very  evidently  au  overflow  from  the  wild  food  i)lant. 


J 


The  leaf  footed  i)lant-bii^  (LtpUxjlonHns  j)hjfU<tpu.s  Liiiii.). — This  iuh'.ect, 
^vhi(•ll  l)ii'e<ls  noniially  upon  the  thistle  and  sueks  the  Juices  of  that 
plant,  was  leceiNtHi  from  Nix  Hros.,  Mount  Pleasant,  S.  C,  with  the 
statement,  made  under  date  of  Auj^ust  I'S.  that  it  was  injurious  to  as])ar- 
a^us.  and  a  single  specimen  was  found  on  aspara<,ais  in  the  nt»i«^hbor- 
hood  of  the  District  of  ( 'olumbia.  It  is  (piite  a  ji:eneral  feeder,  and  has 
been  reiMuded  by  Mr.  11.  (1.  Ilubl)ard  as  injurious  to  tlie  orange. 

The  thick  thighed  Metapodius  [MttapodinH  fnnorntus  Fab.). — With 
the  above  from  Nix  I>r<>s.^  Mount  Pleasant,  S.  ('.,  Au«rust  2»S.  This 
s})ecies  also  atfects  tlu^  orange  by  sucking  the  juices  fiom  the  succulent 
shoots,  tlowers,  or  fiuit.  (See  Hubl>ard*s  ••  Insects  Ali'ecting  the 
Orange,'' p.  102. ) 

I'/ij/dNta  cHstntor  Fab. — Keceived  with  the  preceding  from  Nix  Bros., 
Mount  Pleasant,  S.  C,  and  Eusi-hisius  scrrus  8ay  and  E.  crasxnit  J>all. 
from  the  same  source,  with  the  statement  that  they  were  injurious  to 
asparagus. 

The  harlecpiin  cabbage  bug  {Muriiant'ui  hintrioniat  Ilahn.)  has  pre- 
viously been  mentioned  as  attacking  asjjaragus  'Bull.  No.  7.  n.  s.  Div. 
Ent..  p.  80). 

dlass}^  winged  sharp-shooter  {lloinalodiHca  coa(/ulai(i  8ay). — Keceived 
in  1802  from  J>eaufort,  S.  C.,  from  a  correspondent  who  had  "found 
them  upon  his  asparagus  plants."     (Insect  Life,  Vol.  \',  \),  l.")!*.) 

Plum  plant-louse  {Myzu.s  mahahb  Fonsc). — Observed  in  its  ditt'erent 
stages  in  .lune  at  Washington,  1).  C.,  and  in  such  numbers  as  to  show 
conclusively  that  it  feeds  upon  asparagus. 

Melon  i)lant-louse  {Aphis  t/osfii/pii  Glov.). — Also  in  its  diflereut  stages, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

OTHER  INSECTS. 

Outside  of  the  orders  Coleoptera,  LejHdoptera,  and  11  em iptera  aspar- 
agus has  few  foes.  In  Europe  a  small  two  winged  tly.  Platupnraa paci- 
loptera  Schrank,  called  the  asparagus  tly.  is  of  considerable  economic 
imjwrtance,  and  the  larva  of  Hihio  hortuUins  L.  is  said  to  injure  the 
roots.  In  this  country  only  a  single  species  of  l)ii)tera  appears  to 
have  been  associated  with  asj)aragus.  This  is  Hihio  dlhipenxis  8ay,  but 
it  is  i)r<)bably  not  injurious  to  this  plant  (Pract.  Ent.,  Vol.  II,  p.  83). 

Aifromyzd  simpler  Loew. — May  10,  1807.  and  afterwards  this  minute 
black  tly  was  observed  in  abundance  on  terminal  shoots  of  asparagus, 
particuhuly  at  Cabin  John,  Md.  In  two  weeks  or  so  no  more  were  to 
be  seen,  but  June  26  these  tlies  ap})eared  again,  usually  being  found  in 
vopudd.  It  would  appear  that  this  is  tlie  lirst  new  brood  of  the  year. 
The  abundance  of  this  dipteron  on  asparagus  would  seem  to  indicate 
tliat  it  lives  in  some  manner  at  the  expense  of  this  plant. 

(triisslntppi rs  or  locusts. — (irasshoppers  of  several  species,  ])articu- 
larly  of  the  genus  Melanophis,  are  often  numerous  in  beds  of  asparagus, 
but  the  only  si)ecies  observed  eating  this  plant  was  Mcl((nopJt(s  propin- 
quus  Scu<ld. 


FURTHER  NOTES  ON  THE  HOUSE  FLY. 

i;y   J..    < ».    llowAifi). 

Ill  the  article  on  the  house  ll.y  in  bulletin  No.  4,  new  series,  ol'  tliis 
office,  the  writer  suggested  the  i)ronipt  <»atherin«^  of  horse  manure  an<l 
treating  it  witli  lime  or  keeping-  it  in  an  especially  prepared  receptacle 
as  a  means  of  abating  the  Hy  nuisance.  This  statement  was  based 
upon  the  knowledge  that  nearly  all  of  the  house  tlies  which  bother  us 
in  the  summer  time  come  from  horse  stables,  and  from  the  idea,  not 
based  upon  exact  experimentation,  however,  that  liming  the  manure 
would  destroy  the  contained  larv;e.  This  process  is  doubtless  more  or 
less  efficacious  in  cases  of  the  horn  tly,  which  breeds  in  cow  manure,  and 
only  in  cow  manure  which  is  freshly  dropped.  A  mixture  of  lime  in 
this  case  causes  such  a  rapid  drying  of  the  manure  as  to  destroy  the 
larva\  Actual  experiments,  however,  made  during  the  months  of 
August  and  September,  1897,  in  AVashiugton  sliow  that  nothing  is  to 
be  gained  from  mixing  lime  with  the  horse  manure  pile  as  a  remedy  for 
house  Hies. 

Experiment  1  {Air-slal'ed  lime). — August  5  eight  quarts  of  fresh 
horse  manure,  alive  with  maggots  of  the  house  tiy,  were  mixed  with 
tAvo  quarts  of  air-slaked  lime.  On  August  7  no  larvic  were  dead,  and 
on  August  9  very  many  had  hardened  into  jjuparia,  while  the  others 
were  seemingly  as  lively  as  ever. 

Experiment  2  {land  plaster). — On  August  G  eight  quarts  of  horse 
manure  from  the  same  pile  were  thoroughly  mixed  with  two  quarts  of 
gypsum  or  land  plaster.  In  this  case  the  manure  was  spread  out  in  a 
large  tin  i)an  and  exposed  to  the  sun  and  air.  Three  days  later  exami- 
nation showed  that  most  of  the  larvie  had  hardened  to  puparia,  while  the 
remainder  were  in  good  condition.  None  were  dead,  although  the 
manure  was  found  to  be  very  dry. 

Experiment  3  {gas  lime). — August  7  eight  quarts  of  horse  manure, 
alive  with  larvie,  were  thoroughly  mixed  with  two  quarts  of  gas  lime 
and  spread  out  in  a  large  tin  pan.  August  9  most  of  the  larva'  were 
found  to  have  hardened  into  puparia,  and  none  were  killed. 

The  absolute  inefficacy  of  this  treatment  was  somewhat  disap])oint- 
ing.  Lime  was  experimented  with  on  account  of  its  cheapness  and  on. 
account  of  the  ease  of  applicajbiou.  After  consultation  with  the  chem- 
ist of  the  Department  it  was  decided  to  try  experiments  with  kero- 
vsene,  since  it  was  considered  that  an  application  of  kerosene  would  not 
injure  i)ermanently  the  fertilizing  qualities  of  the  manure,  but  that  it 
would,  perhaps,  have  the  desired  effect  of  retarding  fermentation  until 
it  should  be  put  into  the  ground. 

Experiment  4  {Jcerosene). — September  4,  8  quarts  of  fresh  horse 
manure,  containing  many  larvae  of  the  house  Hy,  were  spread  out  as 
before  in  a  tin  i)an.  On  this  was  sprayed  1  pint  of  kerosene.  Imme- 
diately afterwards  1  quart  of  water  was  poured  over  the  manure  to 


64 

cany  ilic  lv<*instMi(*  down  into  it.  Si'pttMnbei-  7,  on  examination  most  of 
tlM*l;n\a'  were  IoimkI  lo  ixMlrad.  About  20  i)er  cent,  liowevei',  were  still 
alive.  Tiic  niannit*  was  tlicn  turne<l.  On  8ei)tenibi'r  S  about  as  many 
were  still  living  as  on  the  previous  day. 

I'jjK'r intent  '»  (kciosrne). — On  September  7,  S  quarts  of  fresh  horse 
nianun'  containiu'^  house-fly  larva*  were  ])la(ed  as  before  in  a  tin  pan, 
sprayed  with  1  pint  of  kerosene,  washed  down  afterwards  with  1 
quart  of  water.  The  nianuie  was  then  rather  thorouj^hly  mixed  and  a 
little  Uiore  water  was  poured  on.  The  treatnuMit  was  thus  identical 
with  that  in  experiment  4  witli  tlie  exception  that  the  manure  was 
stirred  after  the  kerosene  spray  ha<l  been  washed  in.  On  8ei)tend)er  8 
every  larva  in  the  nuiss  was  dead,  'i'he  tirst  examination  showed  not 
a  sin«'ie  survisor. 

Experiment  a  {chlorid  of  lime). — October  1."),  mixed  1  ])ound  of  cblorid 
of  lime  with  S  (piarts  well-infested  horse  manure.  Kept  in  bucket. 
October  10.  nearly  00  per  cent  of  the  larva*  were  dead,  the  remainder 
ha\iii.u  burrowed  into  the  large  lumps  of  manure.  October  is,  no 
livinji  hnva*  could  be  found. 

E.rjHriiiHut  7  {chlorid  of  litnc). — October  21,  mixed  one-fourth  ])ound 
with  S  <juarts  rather  si)arsely  infested  fresh  horse  manure.  Kept  in 
bucket.  October  22,  careful  examination  showed  only  two  <lead  larva*. 
Many  were  seen  which  were  apparently  unatlected.  October  2:5,  no 
dead  ones  were  found.  October  25,  no  dead  larva*  fonn<l:  all  larva- 
had  hardened  into  apparently  healthy  i)uparia. 

CONCLUSION   AND   GENERAL   REMARKS. 

Experiment  Xo.  T)  indicates  an  easy  and  cheai)  method  of  treating 
manure  piles.  Experiment  0,  with  chlorid  of  lime,  was  also  successful, 
but  the  price  of  this  substance  renders  it  less  available  for  practical  use. 
Most  of  our  chlorid  of  lime  is  imported,  ami  the  writer  is  informed  by 
wholesale  druggists  that  the  price  in  this  country  averages  about  810 
a  barrel.  Although  it  is  very  generally  used  here  for  disinfecting 
purposes,  it  is  much  more  extensively  used  in  Euroi)e,  where  it  is  much 
cheaper.  In  J>ulletin  No.  4,  new  series,  on  household  insects,  the  writer 
suggested  keeping  manure  in  an  especially  juepared  receiitacle.  He 
is  informed  by  Mr.  llusck  that  at  his  home  in  Denmark,  where  the 
iiouse  lly  had  become  very  abundant  and  disagreeable  on  account  of  a 
stable  nearby,  a  roofed  brick  building  was  built  Just  behind  the  stable. 
This  had  two  large  swing  doors  on  one  side  and  a  smaller  door  into  the 
stable,  through  which  the  manure  was  always  i)romptly  thrown,  l^ach 
day,  after  the  manure  was  thrown  into  this  receptacle,  a  shovelful  (d" 
chlorid  of  lime  was  thrown  after  it.  The  manure  was  eventually 
hauled  away  through  the  doubU^  doors.  Xo  examination  was  nuid(*  to 
see  whether  the  chlorid  of  lime  actually  killed  the  Mies,  but  it  was 
supposed  that  it  did  so;  and,  at  all  events,  this  method  of  disposing  of 


G5 

the  inaiiure  resulted  in  decided  relief  from  house  Hies  in  the  neij^libor- 
ing-  house.  Where  it  is  imssibk',  tlieii,  to  build  such  ii  receptacle,  tiiis 
course  is  advised. 

All  stables  should  be  kept  scrui)ul()usly  clean.  The  stable  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  in  which  observations  had  been  made,  is 
kei)t  very  clean  and  probably  very  few  Hies  breed  there.  It  is  swept  out 
and  washed  out  frecjuently.  The  horse  drop])ings  are  removed  care- 
fully each  twenty-four  hours  and  placed  in  a  pile  beside  the  stable, 
whence,  at  intervals  of  a  week  or  more,  they  are  removed  to  the  com,- 
post  heap  some  distance  away.  The  daily  pile  attracts  hosts  of  flies 
and  is  soon  swarming  with  larvie. 

In  order  to  ascertain  the  numbers  in  which  house-fly  larva'>  occur  in 
horse-manure  piles,  Mr.  Busck,at  the  request  of  the  writer  (and,  by  the 
way,  Mr.  Busck  has  assisted  in  all  of  the  experiments),  took  a  quarter 
of  a  pound  of  rather  well-infested  horse  manure  on  August  9,  and 
counted  in  it  IGO  larva',  and  146  puparia.  This  would  make  about  1,200 
house  flies  to  a  pound  of  manure.  This,  however,  can  not  be  taken  as  an 
average,  as  no  larva?  are  found  in,  perhaps,  the  greater  i)art  of  the  ordi- 
nary manure  pile.  Neither,  however,  does  it  show  the  limit  of  what  can 
be  found,  since  Mr.  Busck  counted  about  200  i)upie  in  less  than  one  cubic 
inch  of  manure  taken  from  a  si^ot  2  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  pile 
where  the  larvje  had  congregated  in  immense  numbers. 

There  are  no  other  horse  stables  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the 
treatment  of  this  temporary  pile  every  third  or  fourth  day  by  spraying 
it  with  kerosene,  i^ouring  on  water  and  turning  it  with  a  fork,  will  have 
an  appreciable  effect  on  the  number  of  house  flies  which,  during  every 
summer,  annoy  the  ofldcials  of  the  Department.  This  treatment  should 
be  begun  early  in  the  season,  since,  as  with  other  insects,  it  is  immensely 
more  efl'ective  to  kill  a  single  individual  in  the  spring  than  at  a  later 
season  of  the  year.  This  is  plainly  shown  from  an  estimate  which  the 
writer  has  made,  to  the  eftect  that  from  a  single  overwintering  female 
house  fly  there  may  be  descended  in  the  course  of  the  following 
summer  a  number  of  individuals  mounting  into  the  sextillions.  For  the 
person  who  is  curious  about  statistics  of  that  sort  it  would  be  interest- 
ing to  estimate  the  length  of  a  line  of  flies  of  this  number,  or  the  weight 
of  this  number  of  flies,  and  so  on. 

It  seems  to  the  writer  that  many  persons  may  consider  it  worth  while 
to  go  to  the  slight  trouble  needed  to  treat  manure  piles  in  this  way  and 
to  keep  their  stables  clean.  Not  only  the  house  fly  but  the  biting 
stable  fly  (Stomoxys  calcitrans)  will  be  killed  in  this  way,  and  the  writer 
is  nor  at  all  sure,  in  view  of  the  possibilities  in  the  way  of  transmis- 
sion of  disease  by  both  the  house  fly  and  the  stable  fly,  that  it  would 
not  be  advisable  for  city  boards  of  health  to  pass  regulations  insisting 
upon  greater  cleanliness  of  stables  and  such  a  treatment  of  manure  as 
has  been  described. 

11930— No,  10 5 


no 

THE  BUFFALO-GNATS,  OR  BLACK-FLIES,  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

[A  8\uoiiHi8of  Iho  tljptcrouM  family  Shuuliida.'.] 
lij'  1).  W.  CociUILLE'lT. 

The  dipterous  family  Siiiiuliida»  eoutains  but  the  single  genus 
Simulium,  of  which  the  black-tiy  of  the  North  and  the  buffalo-gnat  of 
the  South  are  well  known  exaini)les.  They  outrival  the  nioS(iuito  in 
their  bloodthirsty  projiensities,  poultry  and  even  domestic  animals 
sometimes  losing  their  lives  from  their  attacks. 

The  black-Hy  of  the  North  is  the  tSimuliinn  rcnusttnn  Say,  of  which 
tS.  molrstum  Harris  and  S.  phciiidium  JJiley  are  synonyms.  It  is  not 
contined  to  the  North,  however,  but  ranges  southward  as  far  as  Bis- 
cayne  Bay,  Florida,  and  is  found  in  the  other  Southern  States,  extend- 
ing westward  to  California.  The  larvie  of  this  si)ecies  were  formerly 
supi)0sed  to  cause  the  death  of  young  trout,  but  this  accusation  has 
since  been  disproved. 

The  life  history  and  habits  of  two  other  species,  the  Southern  buffalo- 
gnat  and  the  turkey-gnat,  have  been  very  thoroughly  investigated  by 
this  Division,  and  a  full  account  was  published  in  the  annual  report  of 
this  Department  for  the  year  1880.  Neither  of  these  species  is  con- 
fined to  the  South,  both  ranging  as  far  northward  as  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts.  The  food  of  the  larvie  consists  chietly  of 
microscopic  Crustacea. 

In  their  relations  with  man,  the  most  annoying  species  are  *S'.  venus- 
tum^  the  black-fly  of  the  north  woods,  and  aS.  invenustiDn.  the  buff'alo- 
guat  of  the  South.  There  is  at  least  one  authentic  record  of  the  death 
of  a  human  being  through  the  attacks  of  the  latter  species.  Dr.  How- 
ard has  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  although  ^S'.  invcuustum  breeds 
abundantly  in  Ilock  Creek,  near  Washington,  D.  C,  it  is  not  known  to 
bite  human  beings  in  this  vicinity.  ^loreover,  he  informs  me  that  the 
same  species,  in  May  and  the  early  part  of  June  in  wet  seasons,  occurs 
abundantly  in  portions  of  the  Catskill  Mountains,  and  that,  although  it 
is  very  annoying  by  tlying  about  the  face  and  crawling  over  the  skin, 
it  rarely  bites.  Dr.  Howard  has  also  studied  the  habits  of  ^S.2fictipes 
at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  has  recorded  some  observations  on  the  larvae  and 
egg  laying  (the  latter  having  been  made  by  Professor  Comstock)  of  this 
species  in  Insect  Life,  Volume  1,  pages  1)1)-101.  He  says  that  this  species 
also,  although  its  larvie  occur  in  enormous  numbeis  in  the  swift-ruuuiug 
rock  streams  about  Ithaca,  does  not.  in  the  adult  stage,  seem  to  bite 
human  beintrs.' 


'The  raost  complete  series  of  observations  Avbich  luas  been  uv.uh-  ujion  any  species 
of  Siinuliuni,  aside  from  those  reconled  in  the  annual  rep(»rt  of  this  Departinent  for 
18Sfi,  upon  the  butfalo-jjjnat  of  the  southwest,  was  made  «luriu«::  ISSO-IK)  by  Miss 
K.  ( ).  Phillips,  a  student  in  the  laboratory  of  Prof.  .T.  H.  Comstock,  at  Cornell  Uni- 
versity. The  results  of  Miss  Phillips's  obsiivations  were  embodied  in  her  «;raduat- 
in^  thesis,  which  has  never  l)cen  ])ublished.  I'lolessor  Comstock  has  ])ermitted  the 
writer  to  examine  the  thesis  and  to  extract  the  followiui;  faets : 

The  species  stmlied  was  Simulium  picti^ies  llageu.     The  adult  occurs  near  Ithaca  in 


67 

In  Osten  Sacken'a  Catalo«j:ne  of  tlie  Diptciji,  fiv(^  species  sire  reported 
as  occuriiii«4  in  this  eonntry  north  of  Mexico,  jis  follows:  *S'.  dccoriini 
Walk.,  iS.  invenustum  W'alU.,  !S.  piscicidium  Kiley,  IS.  rcuKstunt  Say  and 
S.  vittatum  Zett. 

Since  the  date  of  that  publication  descriptions  of  hve  sn|)posed  new 
species  have  been  published,  as  follows: 

JShnuliuni  piclipcn  Hjiiioii,  Proc.  Hostoii  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  V«)l.  XX,  ]).  305;   1S81. 

pcruantm  Riloy,  Annual  Kopt.  U.  S.  Dept.  Aj^iic.  lor  188(),  p.  512;  1887. 

vieridionale  Kiley,  I.  c,  p.  513. 

occidentdlc  Towuseud,  Psyche  for  July,  1891,  p.  107. 

aryus  Williston,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  p.  253;  May,  1893. 

The  type  specimens  of  the  three  species  described  by  Professor  Kiley 
are  now  the  property  of  the  National  Museum.  Two  of  these  si)ecies 
are  synonyms,  viz:  piscicidium  Eiley  equals  venustum  Say,  and  i)ecu- 
artim  Eiley  is  the  same  as  invenustum  Walk.     S.  occidentale  Towns,  is 


the  early  part  of  May  or  at  tlie  beginning  of  the  first  continuous  warm  weather  iu 
spring.  The  eggs  are  deposited  on  rocks  over  which  the  water  is  flowing.  The  flies 
hover  in  little  swarms  a  foot  or  two  above  the  rock,  flying  rapidly  back  and  forth 
and  occasionally  darting  down  and  depositing  their  eggs  beneath  the  water  on  the 
flat  surface  of  the  rock.  The  patch  of  eggs  becomes  at  least  a  foot  or  more  in 
diameter,  and  is  distinctly  observable  at  some  distance  on  account  of  the  light  yellow 
color.  When  the  water  is  very  shallow  and  its  velocity  slight,  the  flies  sometimes 
crawl  over  the  surface  of  the  rock  and  deposit  eggs  without  flying.  Only  a  small 
proportion  of  the  eggs  produce  larvie.  The  larvie  hatcb  a])Out  eight  days  after  the 
eggs  are  laid,  and  in  this  stage  the  insect  may  be  found  at  any  season  of  the  year, 
through  the  hottest  w^eather  in  summer  as  well  as  the  coldest  weather  in  winter.  It 
is  in  this  stage  that  it  hibernates.  Rapid  motion  of  the  water  is  essential  to  the  life 
of  the  larvae,  which  die  within  three  or  four  hours  if  placed  in  quiet  water.  Fas- 
tened to  the  rock  by  the  anal  end  of  the  body,  they  assume  an  erect  position  and 
move  the  head  around  occasionally  with  a  circling  motion. 

They  may  release  themselves,  and  as  they  grow  larger  they  sometimes  allow  them- 
selves to  be  washed  into  deeper  water,  liolding  by  a  thread  which  they  spin  as  they 
go.  The  thread  is  spun  from  the  mouth,  but  is  attached  along  the  side  of  the  body 
to  the  difi'erent  segments.  Sometimes  a  large  cluster  of  larv;c  Avill  cling  to  the  same 
thread,  which  they  can  ascend  in  much  the  same  manner  as  do  spiders.  In  the  winter 
the  larval  fans  are  usually  kept  *jlosed,  and  not  much  food  is  taken.  During  the 
summer  the  length  of  the  larval  life  is  about  four  w  eeks,  varying  somewhat  with 
the  temperature  and  the  velocity  of  the  water.  At  full  growth  the  larva  spins  its 
cocoon,  firmly  attaching  it  to  the  rock  and  also  to  adjacent  cocoons.  The  length  of 
the  pupal  stage  is  about  three  weeks.  Over-wintering  larvje  transform  to  pupje 
about  the  12th  of  April,  the  first  flies  ai)pearing  on  the  2d  of  May.  The  newly  bred 
fly,  surrounded  by  a  bubble  of  air,  quickly  rises  to  the  surface  of  the  water  and  flies 
away  instantly.  The  first  brood  having  appeared  in  early  May,  successive  genera- 
tions are  produced  from  this  time  on  during  the  summer  and  part  of  the  autumn. 
All  of  the  flies  captured  from  the  first  brood  were  females,  but  toward  autumn  the 
males  began  to  appear  in  greater  numbers,  and  toward  the  last  of  August  nearly  all 
the  specimens  taken  were  males.  [On  September  2,  1888,  the  present  writer  cap- 
tured fifty  specimens  of  this  fly  at  Ithaca,  and  all  were  males  with  the  exception  of 
one.]  Adults  were  observed  on  the  wing  as  late  as  the  10th  of  October.  Many  points 
not  here  touched  upon  were  brought  out  in  the  thesis,  which  should  be  published  in 
full.— L.  O.  H. 


G8 


evidently  ii  synonym  of  mcridionah  Hiley;  ihcorum  Walk,  of  vittatum 
Zett.;  and  moUstion  llarris  equals  ccnustnm  Say. 

In  several  species  the  color  of  the  femora  varies  from  yellow  with 
brown  tii)8  to  wholly  brown.  The  knob  of  the  halteres  is  always  yel- 
low.    In  the  female  the;  abdomen  consists  of  ei«^ht  sej;:ments,  but  there 

is  an  additional  one  in  the  male.  Illustrations 
of  the  female  of  inrtNtistKni,  and  of  the  male  of 
mi'iidionidv  are  reproduced  in  ligures  10  and  17. 
With  the  exception  of  argus  Williston,  which 
is  unknown  to  the  writer,  the  following  table 
i^^^^^^^2^^^  c(Uitains  all  the  species  known  to  occur  in  the 
'f/^'^'Z^/  United  States,  all  of  which  are  represented  by 

_  ^_       both  sexes  in  the  National  Museum  collection. 

I^xfl^  TAllLK    OF    THE    SPECIES   OF    SIMULIIM. 

1,  Thorax  largely  or  wholly  blackish 2 

Thorax  and  entire  insect  yellow,  the  head,  abdo- 
men, and  tarsi  soraetinu's  blackish;  length,  3'"'". 
Custer  Co.,  Colo.,  and  liearPawMts.,  M<»nt. 
Fkj.  l^.—Himxilxum  inrentntum:                                                                                         orhraanm  Walk, 
female    Hy.    eular-e<l     (utter       g.  Hind    tarsi    distinctly    bicolorous,    yellowish    and 
Riley;  R..pt.Dept.Agr.  1886).  ^^^,^;,^ [ : 4 

Hind  and  other  tarsi  and  all  legs  unicolorous,  yellow,  brown,  or  black 3 

3.  Abdomen  of  female  gray,  marked  with  a  velvet-black  fascia  on  segments  3  and  4, 

and  sometimes  with  two  subdorsal  spots  of  the  same  color  on  2,  5,  and  <>; 
thorax  bluish  gray,  with  three  black  vittie;  mesouotum  of  male  velvet  black, 
unmarked;  the  dorsum  of  abdomen  of  the  same  color,  marked  with  a  gray 
spot  on  sides  of  segments  3,  0,  7,  and  8;  length,  1.5  to  2'""'.     Boston,  Mass.; 

Agricultural  College.  Mississippi:  Texas  and  Nebraska meridionale  Riley. 

Abdomen  of  female  grayish  brown  or  black,  the  sides  marked  with  a  row  of  vel- 
vet-black spots;  mesonotum  grayish  brown,  marked  with  three  darker  vitta*; 
mesouotum  and  abdomen  of  male  grayish  brown, 
unmarked;  length,  2  to  5""".  White  Mountains, 
New  Hampshire;  Catskill  Mountains,  New  York 
(May);  Adirondack  Mountains,  New  York  (May); 
Wilmuth,  N.  Y. ;  Cambridge,  Mass.;  Roxbury, 
Conn.;  District  of  Columbia;  Grand  Ledge,  Mich.; 
Lakeview,  Miss.,  and  Louisiana. .  inveiiusium  Walk. 

4.  Eyes  widely  separated  ( females) 5 

Kyes  contiguous  (males) 9  /       T 

5.  Sixth,    and    usually  the    two    succeeding  segments  of 

abdonjen   opai^ue,    the    sixth    marked   with   velvet 

black 6     Fig.  \7 .—Simulium  mrridio- 

Sixth  and  two  succeeding  segments  of  abdomen  sub-  "o^-  ™al®  %•  enlarge«l 
shining  brown  and  destitute  of  velvet-black  mark-  ^f"*''  ^j}^^'  ^^P^  ^''^^■ 
ings,  segments  3,  4,  and  d  opa<|ue  velvet  black ;  meso- 
uotum grayish  black,  not  vittate,  the  sides  and  front  corners  light  gray ;  bases 
of  tibi;e  usually,  of  first  Joint  of  the  middle  and  hind  tarsi,  and  sometimes 
bases  of  femora,  yellow;  front  side  of  front  tibia*  metallic  silvery;  length,  L8 
to  3"'™.  lieaver  Mine,  Canada;  Tranconia  and  White  Mountains,  New  Hamp- 
shire; Lake  Tlacid,  New  York;  Huron  Mountains,  Michigan;  Minnesota; 
r^'itional  Park,  Wyoming;  Glenora,  Hritish  Columbia;  Wilsons  Peak,  Cal. ; 
Texas;  Louisiana;  Lakeview,  Miss.,  and  Biscayne  Bay,  Fla icnmtum  Say. 


69 

6.  Dorsum  of  abdomen  distinctly  marked  with  gray,  nearly  bare 7 

Dorsum  of  abdomen  deep  black,  not  marked  with  gray,  quitti  <l(Mi8ely  elothed 

with  nearly  erect  yellowish  tomentum,  niesonotum  also  <lecp  black  .ind  wholly 
covered  with  apjjressed  golden  yellow  tomentum;  pleura  grayish  black;  legs 
nearly  bare,  yellow,  aj)ice8  of  femora  and  of  tibia',  an<l  whole  of  tarsi  except 
the  basal  tive-sixths  of  th»^  first  joint  of  the  hind  ones,  brown;  first  joint  of 
front  tarsi  scarcely  dilated,  the  first  Joint  of  the  hind  ones  one-half  as  wide  as 
their  tibia';  bead  gray,  covered  with  a  pale  yellow  tomentum;  antenua-  black, 
the  two  basal  joints  yellow,  mouthparts  black;  wings  hyaline,  costal,  first 
three  veins  and  first  section  of  the  fourth,  yellow,  the  remainder  subhyaline; 
length,  1.5""".  Cambridge,  Mass.  (May  31, 1889),  and  Los  Angeles  County,  Cal. 
Two  females,  the  one  from  California  captured  by  the  writer. .   hractiatnm  n.  sp. 

7.  Fifth  segment  of  abdomen  marked  with  three  velvet-black  spots,  which  are  some- 

times connected  by  a  narrow  black  line  at  the  extreme  base  of  the  segment. .  8 
Fifth  segment,  and  also  the  third  and  fourth,  marked  Avith  a  broad  velvet-black 
fascia,  front  corners  of  the  sixth  and  usually  of  the  seventh  segnnsnt  also  velvet 
black,  the  middle  of  these  segments  brown ;  mesonotum  gray,  marked  with 
three  black  vitt;e,  a  black  dot  in  front  of  the  insertion  of  each  wing;  base  of 
first  joint  of  hind,  and  sometimes  of  the  middle  tarsi,  yellow,  bases  of  femora 
and  tibia;  sometimes  also  yellow;  length,  2.5  to  4'""'.  Ithaca,  N.  Y. ;  Shovel 
Mountain,  Texas,  and  Wilsons  Peak,  California pictipes  Hagen. 

8.  Front  and  other  femora  brown,  their  bases  sometimes  yellow;  mesonotum  gray, 

marked  v»'ith  five  black  vitt.'c;  abdomen  gray,  bases  of  segments  three  to  seven 
or  eight  each  marked  with  a  velvet-black  fascia  produced  backward  in  the 
middle  and  at  the  ends ;  length,  2  to  4""".  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Grand  Eapids, 
Minn.;  Glencoe,  Nebr. ;  Onaga,  Kans.,  and  Wilsons  Peak,  Cal..  vittatmn  Zett. 
Front  and  middle  femora  and  tibia3  wholly  yellow,  hind  ones  except  their  apices 
also  yellow,  tarsi  brown,  bases  of  the  first  two  joints  of  the  niiddh;  and  hind 
ones  yellow;  mesonotum  grayish,  indications  of  a  darker  median  vitta,  the 
sides  and  front  corners  yellow,  pleura  light  gray,  scntellum  yellow;  abdomen 
gray,  segments  two  to  six  each  marked  with  three  velvet-black  spots;  wings 
hyaline,  the  costa,  first  three  veins,  and  first  section  of  the  fourth,  yellow,  the 
others  subhyaline;  face  and  front  light  gray,  antenna^  brown,  the  two  basal 
joints  yellow,  palpi  black,  proboscis  yellowish;  length,  1.5""".  Colorado. 
Three  females,  collected  by  Mr.  Carl  F.  Baker griseum  n.  sp. 

9.  Mesonotum  gray  at  least  on  the  sides  and  hind  margin 10 

Mesonotum  wholly  velvet  black;  abdomen  with  a  gray  spot  on  the  sides  of  the 

second,  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  segments,  legs  almost  wholly  brown,  other- 
wise as  in  the  female.  Two  male  specimens  taken  with  the  female  (see  above 
under  6) hracteatum  n.  sp. 

10.  Center  of  mesonotum  largely  or  wholly  velvet  black 11 

Center  of  mesonotum  with  a  narrow,  black  vitta,  mesonotum  elsewhere  gray, 

dorsum  of  abdomen  velvet  black,  the  second  and  seventh  segments  and  a  spot 
on  the  sides  of  the  eighth,  silvery  gray,  otherwise  as  in  the  female.  A  male 
specimen  taken  with  the  females  (see  above  under  8) griseum  n.  sp. 

11.  Sides  of  abdominal  segments  four  to  seven,  destitute  of  dense  clusters  of  silvery 

white  hairs;  mesonotum  with  a  gray  streak  extending  obliquely  inward  from 

each  humerus 12 

Sides  of  these  segments  with  silvery  white  hairs,  mesonotum  destitute  of  a  gray 
streak  extending  inward  from  the  humeri  (see  above  under  8)..  vittatum  Zett. 

12.  Suprahumeral  gray  stripes  metallic,  no  metallic  spots  between  them;  mesonotum 

not  vittate  with  black  (see  above  under  5) veniistuni  Say. 

Suprahumeral  gray  stripes  not  metallic,  two  metallic  spots  between  them,  meso- 
notum usually  with  three  black  vittaj  (see  above  under  7) pictipes  Hagen. 


70 

ON  THE  HABITS  OF  THE  OSCINID^  AND   AGROMYZID^,  REARED 
AT  THE  UNITED  STATES  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

liy   1).   W.    i'iHlVllA.KTl. 

So  little  is  at  present  known  rejianlinf^  theearly  stages  of  the  Diptera 
of  this  (country  that  any  contribution  to  this  subject  must  prove  of 
interest,  not  only  to  students  of  natural  history,  but  also  to  persons 
engaged  in  agricultuie,  wliose  <(rowing  crops  are  sometimes  severely 
injured  through  the  de])redations  of  these  insects. 

FAMILY    OSCINID.i:. 

Although  the  family  Oscinida'  is  of  small  extent,  its  members  differ 
(piite  widely  in  regard  to  their  food  habits,  some  attacking  growing 
plants  not  previously  injured  by  other  insects,  some  living  in  burrows 
or  cavities  in  plants  made  by  other  insects,  while  a  few  feed  upon  the  egg- 
shells and  cast-off  skins  of  insects.  In  the  department  insectary  a  large 
number  of  these  insec'ts  have  been  reared,  and  by  authorization  of  Dr. 
Howard,  the  entomologist,  the  records  of  these  rearings  are  now  for  the 
first  time  made  public. 

Genus  Meromyza  Meig. 

The  larva'  of  this  genus  attack  plants  of  wheat  and  rye  not  previously 
injured  by  other  insects;  at  least  two,  and  i)robably  three,  broods  are 
produced  in  one  season,  the  last  one  passing  the  winter  in  some  of  its 
earlier  stages. 

Meromyza  americana  Fitch. — Infested  wheat  plants  were  received 
June  19,  1884,  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Oxford,  Ind.,  and  the  adult  flies 
issued  on  the  8th  of  the  following  month. 

From  a  second  lot  of  wheat  i)lants,  comprising  the  heads  and  por- 
tions of  the  stems  above  the  uppermost  node,  received  June  2,  1886, 
from  J.  G.  Barlow,  Cadet,  ^lo.,  the  flies  issued  on  the  18th  of  the  same 
month.     The  insects  were  in  the  larva  state  when  received. 

In  the  autumn  of  1888  a  number  of  young  wheat  plants  were  received 
from  F.  M.  Webster,  who  collected  them  at  Xew  Harmony,  Ind.,  and 
the  adult  flies  issued  May  14,  1889. 

A  bundle  of  rye  straws  containing  the  larva'  of  this  insect  was 
received  July  G,  189G,  from  IT.  A.  Muller,  Mailers  Lake,  Wis.,  and  the 
adults  issued  on  the  18th  of  the  same  month. 

Genus  Chlorops  Meig. 

The  larva'  of  this  genus  likewise  attack  ])lants  not  previously  injured 
by  other  insects. 

Chlora'pa  proxima  Say. — A  number  of  wheat  plants  were  received 
May  1,  ISSO,  from  K.  Schneider,  Fairview,  Ky.,  and  an  examination 
revealed  the  presence  of  several  puparia  of  this  insect,  situated  between 
the  sheaths  of  the  loaves  and  the  stalk;  the  adult  flies  issued  on  the 
10th  of  the  same  month. 


71 

An  adult  wiis  bred  October  2t,  1SS7,  by  A.  Koebclc,  IVoiii  a  <j:5i|1  like 
swelling  on  the  stem  of  I'Jli/tn us  art'naritis  coWecto.d  ;i  few  days  previ- 
ously neiir  Alaniedji,  Cal. 

Chlorops  ln(p-((f((  Will. — On  Auj^iisl  12,  ISS4,  several  jdantsof  Jl/?//t/6'n- 
bergia  mexicana  were  received  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Oxford,  liid.  At 
the  tips  of  the  plants  were  gall  like  swellings,  each  containing  a  larva  or 
pupariuni  of  this  insect.  The  adult  Hies  issued  May  12,  15,  and  21, 
and  June  1,  of  the  following  year. 

Chlorops  graminea  Coq. — An  adult  of  this  species  was  bred  by  A. 
Koebele,  June  12,  1888,  from  a  gall-like  swelling  on  an  unknown  grass 
collected  in  A})ril  of  that  year  at  Lancaster,  Cal. 

Chlorops  asswiills  Macq. — On  July  20, 1884,  Mr.  Theo.  Pergande found 
two  larva>  and  one  pupariuni  of  this  insect  among  a  colony  of  aphides 
on  the  roots  of  Foa  pratensis.  One  of  the  flies  issued  on  the  31st  of  the 
same  month. 

On  September  6,  1892,  several  sugar  beets  were  received  from  the 
W.  B.  Sugar  Company,  of  Castroville,  Cal.,  and  in  the  leaves  were 
found  a  number  of  the  puparia  of  this  insect.  The  adult  flies  issued 
two  days  later. 

LarviiB  and  puparia  of  this  species  were  taken  September  1,  1897,  by 
Messrs.  F.  H.  Chittenden  and  F.  C.  Pratt  in  the  earth  about  the  roots 
of  horse-radish  in  the  vicinity  of  Tennallytown,  D.  C.  Several  adults 
issued  a  few  days  later.  The  larv?e  and  puparia  were  evidently  attacked 
by  one  or  more  species  of  minute  Staphylinidjc  found  with  them  in  all 
stages,  and  some  of  the  puparia  gave  forth  the  proctotrypid  parasite 
Loxotropa  californica  Ashm. 

Genus  Oaurax  Loew. 

The  two  preceding  genera  belong  to  the  group  Ohloropinre,  Avhilethe' 
present  genus  and  the  genera  which  follow  belong  to  the  Oscininse. 
The  larvDB  of  the  genus  Gaurax  differ  in  a  marked  degree  in  habits 
from  the  others  in  that  they  feed  upon  insect  remains  instead  of  vege- 
table matter. 

Gaurax  anchora  Loew. — A  cluster  of  egg  shells  of  Corydalus  cornutus 
found  Au'gust  24,  1895,  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz,  near  Washington,  D.  C, 
was  placed  in  a  glass  vial  containing  damp  sand,  and  on  the  3d  of  the 
following  month  a  puj)arium  of  this  Gaurax  was  found  in  the  sand  5  the 
adult  fly  issued  on  the  12th  of  the  same  month. 

Four  adults  issued  April  9,  189G,  from  cocoons  of  Orgyia  leucostigmia 
collected  in  September  of  the  preceding  year;  the  larvae  were  observed 
to  feed  upon  the  cast-off  skins  of  the  caterpillars  and  upon  the  chrysa- 
lis shells.  Another  adult  issued  April  17,  and  one  on  the  18th,  from 
the  same  lot  of  cocoons.  Other  adults  were  bred  in  May,  July,  August, 
and  September,  1896,  from  larvai  found  in  the  cocoons  of  the  above 
moth. 


72 

(iaurax  arunvii  Q>iH\. — Adults  ^vcre  bred  March  2  and  9,  1886,  from 
an  egf^  sac  of  Aryiope  riparia  Hentz.  Others  were  received  from  Dr. 
A.  Davidson,  Los  Anjrelos,  Cal.,  who  reported  having  bred  them  from 
larvic  found  amonj^  spiders'  eggs. 

Genus  Elachipteea  Macq. 

The  rearings  indicate  that  the  larva*  of  this  genus  usually  attack 
jdants  not  previously  injured  b}'  other  insects,  but  a  few  evidently  live 
in  the  deserted  burrows  of  otlier  insects;  and  while  the  greater  number 
evidently  feed  uj)on  living  vegetable  matter,  a  few  were  found  in  sit- 
uations which  indicated  that  they  prefer  decayed  to  living  vegetable 
matter. 

Elachiptvra  Jongula  Loew. — On  August  14,  1884,  several  plants  of 
Fanicum  cnisgalli  were  received  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Oxford.  Ind.;  the 
npper  parts  of  these  ])lants  were  infested  with  the  larvie  of  this  insect, 
the  adults  of  which  issued  on  the  2-d  and  3()th  of  the  same  month. 

Two  adults  issued  July  15,  1886,  from  plants  of  oats  received  on  the 
2d  of  the  same  month.  Others  were  received  from  W.  B.  Alwood, 
Columbus,  Ohio,  who  reported  having  bred  them  from  oats. 

From  a  number  of  plants  of  fall  wheat  received  July  10,  1890,  from 
F.  M.  Webster,  Lafayette,  Ind.,  two  adult  Hies  issued  the  next  day. 

Elachiptera  nigricornis  Loew. — Adults  of  this  species  were  also  bred 
from  the  fall  wheat  plants  referred  to  in  the  preceding  paragraph. 

Elachiptera  costafa  Loew. — This  species  was  also  bred  from  the  above- 
mentioned  plants  of  fall  wheat. 

Three  adults  issued  July  15, 1886,  from  plants  of  oats  received  on  the 
2d  of  the  same  month.  One  specimen  was  received  July  9,  1886,  from 
W.  B.  Alwood,  Columbus,  Ohio,  who  also  bred  it  from  oats. 

Two  adults  were  bred  by  the  writer  in  McHenry  County,  111.,  from 
larva'  found  in  a  decayed  cavity  in  the  roots  of  a  living  garden  radish. 

On  August  1*9, 1894,  a  melon  root  was  received  from  M.  P.  Barnard, 
Kenneth  Square,  Pa. ;  the  root  was  decayed  in  several  places,  and  in 
the  cavities  were  larv;e  of  this  insect.  The  adults  issued  September 
14  and  October  10  of  the  same  year. 

Elachiptera  nigriceps  Loew. — Issued  August  15, 1883,  from  i)ond  lily 
plants  infested  with  the  larva'  of  Pyransta  pent  talis  which  had  bur- 
rowed into  the  stems  and  seed  pods.  The  i)lants  were  collected  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  August  1. 

On  August  24, 1883,  Mr.  A.  Koebele  found  several  larva'  of  this  insect 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  a  gall-like  fungus  growth  on  the  stem  of  a 
water  lily;  three  adults  issued  on  the  12th  of  the  following  month. 

Adults  were  also  reared  August  25,  1886,  from  decaying  water  lily 
plants  collected  by  Theo.  Pcrgande  at  Washington,  1).  C. 

From  plants  of  Panicum  cnisgalli  received  August  14,  1884,  from  F. 
M.  Webster,  Oxford,  Ind.,  several  adults  issued  on  the  11th  of  the  fol- 
lowing month. 


73 

Specimens  were  reared  July  1"),  ISSO,  Irom  oat  plants  received  on  tlio 
2d  of  the  same  month  from  the  same  observer. 

Elachiptcrajlarida  AVill. — An  adult  issued  .lune  27,  ISO],  from  a  stalk 
of  sugar  cane  received  on  the  ITith  of  this  month  IVoiii  1).  ().  Sutton, 
Runnymede,  Fla. ;  the  stalk  was  also  infested  with  a  caterpillar  of 
Diatriva  saccharalis. 

(lenus  lIiPPELATES  Loew. 

Only  a  single  species  of  this  genus  has  been  reared,  tiie  larva  evi 
dently  living  in  the  deserted  burrow  of  another  insect.     The  adults  of 
several  species  are  sometimes  very  annoying  by  their  persistent  efforts 
to  get  into  the  eyes  of  both  man  and  animals. 

HippeJates  conrexns  Loew. — xVn  adult  issued  June  27,  1891,  from  a 
stem  of  sugar  cane  received  on  the  15th  of  the  month  from  1).  G.  Sutton, 
Eunnymede,  Fla. ;  the  stalk  was  also  infested  with  the  larva  of  Biafrwa 
saccharalis. 

Genus  OsciNis  Latr. 

The  larvae  of  this  genus  usually  attack  living  plants  not  previ.nisly 
injured  by  insects,  but  a  few  species  live  in  the  deserted  burro\  s  of 
other  insects. 

Oscinis  trigramma  Loew. — Issued  October  4  and  28,  1881,  from  prtpa- 
ria  found  in  burrows  of  Elasmopalpus  Ihjnosellus  Zell.,  in  stalks  of  corn 
September  29,  by  Prof.  W.  S.  Barnard,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

An  adult  was  bred  July  11,  1890,  from  plants  of  fall  wheat  received 
the  preceding  day  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Two  issued  May  21,  1891,  from  strawberry  roots  received  on  the  1st 
of  the  month  from  H.  T.  Back,  Coeur  d'Alene,  Idahoj  the  roots  were 
also  infested  with  a  Ghrysobothris  larva. 

An  adult  was  bred  by  A.  Koebele  from  a  stem  of  an  unknown  grass 
collected  in  the  Santa  Cruz  Mountains,  California;  the  stem  was  also 
infested  with  a  larva  of  a  species  of  Cephus. 

Oscinis  coxendix  Fitch. — Issued  October  28,  1881,  from  a  puparia 
found  in  a  burrow  of  Elasmopalpus  Ugnosellus  Zell.,  in  a  stalk  of  corn 
collected  September  29,  by  Prof.  W.  S.  Barnard,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Several  adults  issued  July  6,  1886,  from  young  corn  plants  obtained 
on  the  18th  of  the  preceding  month  by  Theo.  Pergande  at  Mount 
Vernon,  Ya.;  the  plants  were  also  infested  by  the  larv.^e  of  Biahrotica 
12-punctata.     Others  were  bred  from  corn  plants  September  12,  1891 . 

One  specimen  issued  July  31, 1886,  from  a  plant  of  Foa  pratensis  col- 
lected on  the  1st  of  the  month  by  Theo.  Pergande  in  Washington,  I).  C. 

An  adult  issued  July  11,  1890,  from  a  plant  of  fall,  wheat  received  the 
previous  day  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Oscinis  soror  Macq. — Adults  were  bred  September  11, 1884,  from  sev- 
eral plants  of  Panicum  criisgalli  received  on  the  14th  of  the  i^receding 
month  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Oxford,  Ind. 


74 

One  specimen  issue<l  May  15,  1885,  from  seed  pods  of  Vcrjioiua  nove- 
horacensis  collected  ( )ctober  22, 1884,  by  Theo.  Pergaude  in  Washington, 
1).  C;  the  ]M)ds  were  also  infested  by  the  caterpillars  of  Platynota  sen- 
tmm  and  Kudcmis  hotntiui. 

Adults  were  received  June  25  and  »Iuly  9,  1880,  from  W.  B.  Alwood, 
Coliiiiibus,  Ohio,  who  bred  them  from  oat  jilants. 

Bred  . I  line  24,  188(>,  from  stems  of  Pita  prdtensia. 

An  adult  issued  June  21, 1887,  from  a  stem  of  Poa  pratensix  received 
on  tlie  1st  of  tlie  month  from  F.  M.  Webster,  Lafayette,  liid. 

i'rom  a  nund)er  (jf  plants  of  fall  wheat  received  from  tlie  same  source, 
July  1(),  1.S90,  the  adults  issued  a  few  days  later. 

Koots  of  cucumber  containing  larva»  of  this  insect  weie  received 
8ei)tend>er  22,  ISIX;,  from  W.  C  Appleby,  Carroll,  Md..  and  an  adult 
issued  on  the  2d  of  the  following  month. 

Adults  were  received  from  (1.  C.  Davis,  Agricultural  College,  Mich., 
September  11),  1800,  who  stated  that  he  bred  them  from  strawberry 
plants. 

Osvinis  carhonaria  Loew. — From  a  stalk  of  wheat  received  June  25, 
18S;>,  from  J.  (1.  Kingsbury,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  an  adult  issued  on  the 
18th  of  the  following  month;  the  larvai  infested  the  stem  at  the  upper- 
most node,  and  pupated  within  the  stem.  Their  attacks  resulted  in 
killing  the  head  of  wheat. 

From  several  young  wheat  plants  received  September  8,  1884,  from 
F.  M.  Webster,  Oxford,  Ind.,  the  adult  Hies  issued  on  the  10th,  11th, 
13th,  and  10th  of  the  same  month;  the  larva'  infested  the  lower  portion 
of  the  idants. 

Adults  issued  July  7,  1885,  from  puparia  in  wheat  plants  received  on 
the  3d  of  the  month  from  L.  Bruner,  AVest  Point,  Xebr. 

Others  were  received  August  30,  188(),  and  August  9,  1888,  from 
F.  M.  Webster,  Latayette,  Ind.,  who  also  bred  them  from  wheat  plants. 

From  plants  of  fall  wheat  received  from  the  same  source,  July  10, 
1890.  the  adult  Hies  issued  in  the  course  of  a  few  days. 

Two  puparia  of  this  insect  in  the  base  of  a  stem  oiAgropedium  caninum 
were  received  Alay  25,  1889,  from  James  Fletcher,  Ottawa,  Canada,  and 
the  adults  emerged  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month. 

(hcinis  umhrosa  Loew. — Two  adults  issued  July  22,  1880,  from  plants 
of  Poa  pratenais  collected  by  Theo.  Pergaude  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
on  the  1st  of  the  month;  the  larva'  lived  in  the  middle  of  the  stems 
close  to  the  ground,  and  were  found  in  young  plants  less  than  three 
inches  high. 

From  i)lants  of  fall  wheat  received  July  10, 1890,  from  F.  :\I.  Webster, 
Lafayette,  Ind.,  the  adults  issued  a  few  days  later. 

OsciniH  pallipes  Loew. — An  adult  Avas  received  from  W.  IL  Ashmead, 
Jac^ksonville.  Fla.,  who  rei)orted  having  bred  it  from  a  plant  of 
artichoke. 

OsHnh  Jouf/ipes  Loew. — From  seed  ])ods  of  Catalpa  speciosa  received 
November    19,   1877,    from    Thos.   IMeehan,    (iermautown,   Pa.,   adults 


75 

issued  from  February  IS  to  Ai)ril  27,  1S7S.  The  larvn'  infested  tlie 
seeds  as  well  as  tlie  pods,  and  as  niayiy  as  ci^ht  larvae  soinetiines 
occurred  in  a  siu<;le  cavity.  Another  lot  of  infested  seed  i)()ds  was 
received  January  25,  1879,  from  J.  A.  Warder,  Xorth  Jiend,  Ohio,  and 
tlie  adults  issued  February  18  and  20  and  March  17  of  the  same  year. 

Genus  Siphonella.  Macq. 

Our  breeding  records  indicate  that  while  the  larv;e  of  one  species  live 
in  the  deserted  burrows  of  other  insects,  those  of  a  second  8j)ecies  feed 
upon  the  egg*  shells  of  spiders,  thus  combining  in  their  habits  those  of 
the  genus  Gaurax  with  those  of  the  other  genera  of  this  family. 

Si2)honeUa  inquUina  Coij. — From  a  cecidomyiid  gall  on  an  undeter- 
mined species  of  Aster  collected  October  10,  1874,  by  O.  Lugger,  at  St. 
Louis,  ]Mo.,  an  adult  of  this  species  issued  February  15  of  the  following 
year.  The  gall  when  first  found  did  not  contain  any  cecidomyiian,and 
the  Siphonella  had  evidently  lived  as  an  inquiline  after  the  original 
occupants  had  abandoned  the  gall. 

From  a  puparium  found  in  a  cavity  in  an  apple  an  adult  issued  May 
28, 1881 ;  the  cavity  was  doubtless  made  by  a  caterpillar  of  Carjwcapsa 
pomoneUa. 

On  June  20,  21,  and  23,  1884,  adults  of  this  insect  issued  from  twigs 
of  Cephalanthus  occidentalis  collected  on  the  17th  of  the  month  by 
A.  Koebele  in  Virginia 5  the  twigs  were  also  infested  by  caterpillars 
of  Laverna  cephalanthiella  Cbamb. 

An  adult  was  received  from  Miss  M.  E.  Murtfeldt,  Kirkwood,  Mo., 
who  stated  that  she  reared  it  February  11,  1891,  from  a  berry  of  Sola- 
num  carolinense. 

Siphonella  oscinina  Fall. — Four  adults  issued  August  25,  1895,  from 
an  Qgg  sac  of  a  spider  found  on  the  17th  of  the  month  by  Theo.  Per- 
gande,  at  Eiverview,  Md. 

FAMILY  AGROMYZID^. 

Dr.  H.  Loew,  who  has  written  more  extensively  concerning  the  sys- 
tematic arrangement  of  the  Diptera  of  this  country  than  any  other 
author,  erected  a  distinct  family  for  the  genus  Phytomyza,  but  its  mem- 
bers are  altogether  too  closely  related,  structurally  and  also  in  regard 
to  their  food  habits,  to  the  geuns  Agromyza  to  be  placed  in  a  different 
family,  and  I  have  therefore  followed  Dr.  Schiner  in  uniting  the  so- 
called  family  Phytomyzid?e  with  the  Agromyzid?e.  Eepresentatives 
of  four  of  the  genera  have  been  bred  at  the  insectary  of  this  Depart- 
ment. These  genera  also  occur  in  Europe,  where  they  are  reported  as 
having  the  same  habits  as  in  this  country.  The  larv?e  of  one  genus, 
Leucopis,  prey  upon  plant  lice  and  scale  insects,  while  those  of  the 
other  three  genera,  Ceratomyza  (formerly  known  as  Odontocera,  a  pre- 
occupied name),  Agromyza,  and  Phytomyza,  feed  on  living  plants  by 
forming  burrows  or  mines  in  various  parts  of  them,  but  principally  in 
the  leaves. 


76 

rTavinfr  rccontly  made  a  careful  siiuly  of  the  specimens  belonjring:  to 
this  family  contained  in  tlie  National  Museum  collection,  which  includes 
those  bred  at  the  iusectary  of  this  Department  and  by  the  writer,  the 
records  of  these  rearinj^s  are  brought  together  in  the  present  paper, 
and  in  addition  su(!h  data  as  liave  been  communicated  by  correspond- 
ents who  liave  transmitted  bred  s|)ecimens  for  names. 

Lvncopis  nigrlvornis  logger. — This  si)ecies  was  evidently  introduced 
from  Europe,  althougli  at  the  present  time  it  occurs  all  over  this  coun- 
try, ranjiin;^  from  New  llamijshire  to  Florida  and  westward  to  Califor- 
nia. A  specimen  from  France  agrees  in  all  points  with  others  from 
this  country.  The  larvae  prey  upon  various  kinds  of  plant  lice  by  cap- 
turing them  and  sucking  out  their  juices.  When  fully  grown  they 
seldom  wander  far  from  their  feeding  grounds,  but  attach  themselves 
oy  a  viscid  substance  and  soon  contract  into  puparia,  after  the  manner 
of  many  kinds  of  syrphus  Hies. 

lired  February  28,  1871),  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz,  from  larvic  found  in 
the  galls  of  l*emphigiis  transverHus   at  Columbus,  Tex. 

r>red  by  the  writer  July  0  to  9,  1883,  at  Sacramento,  Cal.,  from  larva* 
feeding  upon  aphidids  on  thistles;  the  iarva*  pupated  from  June  20  to 
28.  Also  reared  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  May  21, 1887,  irom  larvae  preying 
ui)on  aidiidids  on  willows. 

Issued  July  18,  1883,  from  larvne  feeding  upon  aphidids  on  a  cherry 
tree  at  Boscowen,  N.  H.  Also  issued  July  8,  1888,  from  larva*  feeding 
upon  the  same  kind  of  aphidids. 

Issued  March  14,  1884,  from  larva'  in  galls  of  PemphUjus  hursarius 
received  March  11  from  J.  Lichtenstein,  Montpellier,  France. 

Issued  July  12  and  13,  1880,  from  larv;e  preying  upon  Siphonophora 
arena'  on  wheat  collected  June  26  by  F.  M.  Webster,  at  Vincennes,  Ind. 

Leticopis  simplex  Loew. — Issued  August  9, 13,  and  IG,  1883,  from  hirva? 
in  galls  of  Phi/lloxera  rififoUw  collected  July  30  by  ^Ir.  T.  Pergande,  in 
N'irginia.  Also  August  11,  18!>1,  from  galls  of  the  same  insect  received 
from  C.  A.  Davis,  Alma,  Mich.  Also  bred  in  .Inly,  JSOO,  from  galls  of 
this  insect  by  T.  A.  Williams,  Fremont,  Nebr. 

Issued  May  14,  1807,  from  larva'  preying  upon  Chermes  phiicorticis, 
collected  May  11  by  Mr.  T.  Pergande,  at  AVashiugton,  D.  C. 

Leucopis  helJa  Loew. — Issued  in  May,  1880,  from  larva'  preying  upon 
a  species  of  Eriopeltis  on  swamp  grass  in  Nova  Scotia,  received  from 
Dr.  James  Fletcher,  Ottawa,  Canada. 

Issued  February  23  and  March  1,  1802,  from  larva*  preying  ui>on  a 
species  of  coccus  on  Opuutia  sp.  collected  by  'Sir.  C.  K.  Orcutt,  San 
Diego,  Cal.  Also  May  11,  180(),  from  larva'  preying  on  this  Coccid 
received  January  27  from  C.  11.  T.  Townsend,  who  collected  them  at 
San  Antonio,  Tex.  And  November  T),  180G,  from  larva'  preying  upon 
the  above-mentioned  Coccid,  received  September  21  from  S.  A  Pease, 
San  P>ernardino,  (^al. 

liCared  by  the  writer  .Tune  17,  1SS7,  from  larva'  preying  on  a  species 


77 

of  lihizococcns  on  Arfnnisia  mlifornica,  ('ollcctod  May  -9  at  Los  An 
geles,  Oal. 

Three  specimens  issued  Sei)tember  14, 18!)  I,  IVoni  larva'  liu'diiij;  upon 
a  species  of  Pulvinaria  on  SidUmi'ht  sylrativa  received  August  17  IVoiii 
E.  A.  Schwarz,  who  colUH^tcd  theni  at  llockport,  Tex. 

LcucopisheUula  Will. —  Issued  October  15,  1880,  from  larva*  preying 
upon  Coccus  cacti  collected  in  Texas  by  Dr.  If.  W.  Wiley,  chemist  of 
this  l)ei)artment. 

Issued  January  li,  6,  and  1^9,  1897,  from  larva*,  preying  on  Coccus  con- 
fusus  received  October  10,  1890,  from  C.  H.  T.  Townsend,  ]\Iesilla, 
KMex. 

Issued  November  3,  7,  and  13,  1894,  from  larva'  preying  ui)on  a  si)e- 
cies  of  Acauthococcus  received  October  29  from  0.  II.  T.  Townsend, 
who  collected  the  specimens  at  Dalles,  Mexico. 

Keared  by  Mr.  T.  D.  A.  Cockerell,  Mesilla,  IST.  Mex.,  from  larva?  prey- 
ing upon  Orthezia  nigrocincta. 

Ccratomyza  dorsaUs  Loew. — Issued  October  V2^  1888,  fromapui)arium 
found  in  a  mine  in  a  leaf  of  timothy  received  September  3  from  F.  M. 
Webster,  Lafayette,  Ind.  Adults  were  previously  bred  from  the  same 
plant  by  Mr.  Webster.  Also  bred  in  1888  by  the  same  person  from 
larvic  mining  the  leaf-sheathes  of  young  wheat  plants. 

Af/romyza  melampyga  Loew. — From  mines  in  leaves  of  a  cultivated 
species  of  Philadelphus  collected  in  Washington,  D.  0.,  during  the 
latter  part  of  July,  1884,  six  adults  issued  on  the  12tli  of  the  following 
month.  From  mines  in  leaves  of  Plantmjo  major  collected  June  28, 1888, 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  the  adults  issued  July  5,  7,  9  and  10;  the  larvaB 
pupate  within  the  mines.  Another  adult  issued  June  27,  1890,  from  a 
mine  in  a  leaf  of  the  above-mentioned  plant  from  the  same  locality. 

Agromyza  jucunda  v.  d.  W. — (An  examination  of  the  type  specimen 
of  Osciyiis  malvce  Burgess,  described  in  the  Annual  Ileport  of  this 
Department  for  1879,  page  202,  reveals  the  fact  that  it  is  not  distinct 
from  the  above  mentioned  species  of  Agromyza.) 

Issued  July  20,  1874,  from  larvie  found  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  30,  in 
mines  in  the  leaves  of  the  cultivated  verbena.  Also  October  1,  3,  20, 
29,  and  31,  1881,  from  larvte  mining  the  leaves  of  the  above-mentioned 
plant  at  Washington,  D.  C,  collected  by  Dr.  Eiley  September  28. 

Four  flies  issued  November  14, 1879,  from  larvoe  mining  the  leaves  of 
Malva  rotundifoUa  collected  October  23  at  Washington,  D.  C,  by  Mr. 
T.  Pergande. 

Issued  September  9  and  10,  1885,  from  larva?  mining  the  leaves  of 
the  cultivated  sunflower. 

Eeared  by  the  writer  June  5,  0,  and  11,  1887,  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal., 
from  larvae  forming  large  mines  in  the  leaves  of  XantMum  strumarium^ 
Aplopajypns  sqiiarrosa,  Helianthus  annuns,  and  SoUdago  californica. 
The  mines  are  irregular  in  outline,  from  10  to  15'"'"  in  diameter,  at 
first  whitish,  but  finally  turning  almost  black.      The  larva  forms  a 


78 

cup  slia[)e(l  swellinj^  on  the  under  side  of  tlie  leaf,  and  in  the  center  of 
this  tlie  change  to  the  pupa  and  finally  to  the  adult  state  takes  plaee. 

Issued  July  7,  1>,  and  15,  LSIHJ,  from  larva'  niinint;:  the  leaves  oi'  A ster 
ericoides  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  collected  July  5  by  Mr.  T.  Per- 
gande. 

A(/n>mi/:a  dinninita  Walk. — (An  cxaniinsition  of  the  ty])es  of  Oscinis 
tri/olii  liurgess  descril)ed  in  the  Annual  Kcport  of  this  Department  for 
1S71>,  pa^e  -i)l,  and  of  Oscinis  hrassicd-  Kiley,  described  in  the  Annual 
Keport  for  1884,  i)age  3U2,  proves  that  both  descriptions  refer  to  the 
same  species,  whicth  was  previously  described  by  Walker  as  PItyiomyza 
(liminuid.     It  is,  however,  a  true  species  of  Agromyza.) 

Issued  June  19,  1870,  from  larvie  mining  the  leaves  of  the  potato, 
collected  June  3  at  Foristell,  Mo. 

Issued  June  IM),  ;U),  and  July  li,  1879,  from  larvic  mining  the  leaves 
ol  white  clover  at  Washington,  D.  C,  collected  June  18  by  Mr.  T.  Per 
gande. 

Keareil  by  the  writer  from  larva'  found  in  large  mines  in  the  leaves 
of  cabbage  in  September,  1887,  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Also  bred  from  a 
stem  of  cabbage  by  H.  Osborn,  Ames,  Iowa. 

A(jro)Hyza  (vneivcntrh  Fall. — lieared  in  1880  by  F.  ^\.  AVebster  from 
larvie  found  in  burrows  in  roots  of  clover;  also  bred  by  T.  Pergande 
March  4  and  19,  1895,  from  larvie  found  in  burrows  in  stems  of 
Ambrosia. 

Agromyza  neptis  Loew. — Issued  August  25  and  28,  1883,  from  larva3 
mining  the  leaves  of  Indian  corn  at  Washington,  D.  C;  collected 
August  9  by  i\Ir.  T.  Pergande,  whose  account  of  this  insect  is  substan- 
tially as  follows:  The  eggs  are  deposited  on  the  under  side  of  the 
leaves  and  soon  i)roduce  an  oval  colorless  spot.  As  soon  as  hatched 
the  young  larva  burrows  into  the  leaf,  and  then  turns  and  runs  its 
mine  just  beneath  the  upper  epidermis.  At  lirst  the  mine  is  not  visible 
from  the  under  side  of  the  leaf,  but  as  the  larva  increases  in  size  it 
enlarges  the  mine  until  it  is  visible  on  both  sides  of  the  leaf.  The 
mine  sometimes  attains  a  length  of  0  inches,  and  is  about  one-eighth 
of  an  inch  wide. 

Issued  July  20,  1884,  from  larva*  mining  the  leaves  of  solidago,  col- 
lected by  Mr.  T.  Pergande  June  25  in  Virginia. 

Agromyza  sctosa  Loew. — Issued  August  8,  1891,  from  larva',  mining 
the  leaves  oi'  Zizania  aquaticaj  collected  by  T.  Pergande  in  the  District 
of  Columbia. 

Peared  in  1890  by  Mr.  F.  A.  Sirrine,  Jamaica,  X.  Y..  from  larva'  min- 
ing the  leaves  of  the  ganlen  chrysanthenuim. 

Keared  in  November  by  A.  Koebele,  from  larva'  mining  the  leaves  of 
the  strawberry  in  Placer  County,  Cal. 

Phytoinyzd  n<iitiU'(jUv  Hardy. — Eight  adults  issued  during  the  latter 
l)art  of  October,  1884,  fnmi  larva'  mining  the  leaves  of  the  garden  nas- 
collected  early  in  September  at  Washington,  D.  C.     Others 


79 

were  bred  by  tlie  writer  in  July,  18<.>7,  from  Ijirvif  Ibinid  in  kutow, 
tortuous  iniiiCwS  iu  the  leaves  of  the  above-mentioned  i)l;iiit. 

lieared  in  181)4:  by  ^Ir.  W.  E.  Ihitton,  New  Haven,  Comi.,  IVom  hirva'- 
niinin<;-  tlie  leaves  of  the  eohnnbine. 

rhilUmujza  vlwiisanihvmi  Kowarz. — Issued  J)eeend)i;r  M)  and  ;>1,  1880, 
and  January  5,  (>,  7,  and  10,  1887,  from  larva'  nunin<jf  the  leaves  of  the 
cultivated  ehrysanthennim,  received  l)ecend)er.'I(),  from  Charles  Hender- 
son, of  Xew  York;  the  larva'  pupate  within  their  mines. 

Issued  March  5, 1890,  from  larva'  mining  the  leavers  of  the  Marguerite 
daisy,  received  February  28,  from  James  Kead,  Trvington,  N.  Y.  Also 
]March  31  and  April  2  and  3,  181)0,  from  larva',  mining  the  leaves  of  the 
above-mentioned  plant,  received  March  27,  from  J.  II.  Ives,  Danbury, 
Conn. ;  and  April  5,  7,  8,  10,  and  14,  1890,  from  leaves  of  the  feverfew, 
received  April  3,  from  the  same  person. 

Fliytomyza  ohscurella  Fall. — Eeared  by  the  writer  May  8,  1887,  from 
larvae  found  April  19,  in  long,  tortuous  mines  iu  the  leaves  oi  Lnpunis 
albicaulus  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


THE   TOBACCO   FLEA-BEETLE. 

{I'.'pitHx parvuJa  Fab. ) 

By  F.  H.  ClIlTTENDEX. 

LARVAL   HABITS    OF    THE    (lENUS. 

Until  within  a  year  the  larval  habits  of  our  flea-beetles  of  the  genus 
Ex)itrix  were  unknown,  a  very  general  imi:>ression  prevailing  that  the 
larvie  were  leaf-miners.  Writers  on  economic  entomology  have  fos- 
tered this  belief,  and  very  recently  one  has  made  the  positive  statement 
that  the  larva  of  the  common  cucumber  tlea-beetle  {Epitrix  cucumeris 
Harr.)  ''is  a  miner,  feeding  within  the  substance  of  the  leaves  of  the 
infested  plants."  It  remained  for  Messrs.  F.  0.  Stewart  and  F.  A.  Sir- 
rine  to  discover  the  true  larval  habit  of  the  genus,  namely,  that  it  is 
subterranean,  a  hypothesis  that  had  previously  been  entertained  by 
Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz  and  the  writer  from  the  fact  that  the  larvae  were  not 
to  be  found  in  the  leaves  or  stems.  On  this  head  Mr.  Schwarz  wrote  of 
cucumeris  (Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  Yol.  II,  p.  184) :  ''  Its  true  food  jdant 
will,  no  doubt,  prove  to  be  one  of  the  Solauaceji^,  and  the  larva  is  prob- 
ably a  root-feeder."  Messrs.  Stewart  and  Sirrine  found  the  larva  of  this 
sx^ecies  boring  into  the  tubers,  roots,  and  rootstalks  of  potato,  this  work 
resulting  m  th«  formation  of  "  slivers"  or  "i)imples"  as  has  been  nar- 
rated in  Bulletin  113  of  the  XewY^ork  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
and  the  Proceedings  of  the  Iowa  Academy  of  Sciences  for  1800  (pp. 
170-172).  Potatoes  so  affected  sold  for  as  much  as  5  cents  a  bushel 
lower  than  the  regular  market  x^'ice. 


80 


RECENT   OBSERVATIONS. 

August  IS,  1S97,  in  C()iui)aiiy  with  Mr.  F.  C.  Pratt,  the  writer  found 
niiiiierous  jmpa*  of  Kpitrix  at  the  roots  of  Jamestown  weed  (JJatiira 
fit ramoni urn)  iiUil  the  common  ni<i:htshade  {iSolanumnujnim)  and  a  few 
larva'  of  at  leiist  two  si)ecies.  The  i)ui)a*  eouUl  not  be  i)ositively  identi- 
tied  at  the  time,  and  as  both  larva*  and  i)ui)a*  are  exceedingly  delicate 
only  II  i>ortion  of  the  material  obtained  was  reared.  The  pupie  were 
most  numerous  within  a  very  short  distance  of  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
but  were  found  to  the  depth  of  an  inch,  and,  in  one  or  two  cases  two  or 
three  inches,  from  the  bases  of  the  stems  of  the  host  plant,  one  individual 

being  found  at  a  distance  of  about 
four  inches,  under  a  stone,  show- 
ing that  under  favoring  conditions 
the  larva-  travel  under,  or  more 
l)robably  over,  the  earth,  and  when 
this  is  moist  with  dew.  Three 
species  of  Epitrix  {cucumcrisyfus- 
culdj  and  2)arvula)  wn^re  found  on 
these  plants;  hence  it  was  impos- 
sible to  identify  all  the  immature 
stages.  Such  pupa-  as  developed, 
however,  proved  to  be  jyarrula. 
One  bred  August  -3  remained  at 
least  live  days  in  the  pupal  con- 
dition. Subsequently  other  larvie 
and  pupa-  were  found,  but  none 
during  the  tirst  week  of  Sei)tem- 
ber,  and  it  would  seem  probable 


Fio.  m.—Eintr-ix pnrvvla  .-  a,  adult  beetle;  ft,  larva, 
lateral  view  ;  c.  head  of  larva ;  d.  posterior  leg  of 
same ;  e,  anal  sejixiifHt,  dorsal  view ;  /,  pupa ;  a,  h, 
/.  eiilartied  about  tifteen  times;  c,  d,  e.uioro  en- 
larged (orijrinal). 


that  the  last  generation  of  the  year  develops  in  this  latitude  toward 
the  end  of  August.  IJeetles  were  found  on  eggplant  early  in  October, 
but  in  decreased  numbers,  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  there  may  be  a 
later  generation;  but  this  is  not  probable. 


The  adult  beetle  is  very  minute,  measuring  scarcely  above  one- 
twentieth  of  an  inch  (1.5"'"')  in  length,  oblong  ovate  in  form,  and  light 
brown  in  color.  The  elytra  are  usually  marked  with  a  dark  transverse 
median  band  of  greater  or  less  extent.     (See  Hg.  18,  a.) 

The  egg  of  this  species,  or  of  the  genus,  for  that  matter,  appears  never 
to  have  been  observed. 

The  larva  is  illustrated  at  b.  In  a  general  way  it  res^bles  Diabro- 
tica,  having  the  same  number  of  segments,  joints  of  legs,  anteun.T,  and 
palpi.  It  is,  of  course,  more  minute,  measuring  only  a  trifle  above  an 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  length  (3.5""")  wlien  tally  grown.  It  is  delicate 
and  filiform  or  thread-like,  milk  white  in  color,  except  the  head,  which 
is  honey  yellow  with  dark(-r  brown  niouth-parts  and  sutures.     (See  c.) 


81 

The  body  is  subcylindrical,  moderately  wrinkled  and  Re<j:niented,  and 
sparsely  eovered  with  short  hairs.  The  head  is  only  moderately  chiti- 
nous,  and  the  first  thoracic  and  last  or  anal  segment  are  apparently  not 
at  all,  or  at  least  only  slijii^htly,  chitinized.  The  anal  se<,niient,  shown, 
dorsal  view^  at  <?,  is  fnrnished  with  a  small  prole^,  but  there  are  no 
visible  denticles  at  its  apex.  The  lei;*  is  best  recognized  by  reference 
to  figure  18,  d. 

The  pupa  is  w^hite,  like  the  larva,  and  also  resembles  somewhat  that 
of  Diabrotica,  especially  in  the  anal  hook-like  api)endages.     (See/.) 

PUBLISHED    OBSERVATIONS    ON   HABITS    AND   INJURIES. 

Keferences  to  the  habits  of  JEpitrix  parvula  are  somewhat  limited, 
considering  its  distribution  and  abundance,  which  may  be  accounted 
for  from  the  fact  of  its  being  a  southern  species.  It  occurs  in  the  north, 
but  its  injuries  ai)i)ear  to  be  confined  to  the  more  southern  States. 

In  the  third  volume  of  the  American  Entomologist  (p.  123),  published 
in  1880,  this  insect  is  mentioned  under  the  name  of  Upitrix  hirtipennis 
Melsh.  as  doing  "  considerable  damage  to  tobacco  plants  on  the  Bahama 
Islands  by  comj^letely  riddling  the  leaves,  and  thus  rendering  them 
unfit  for  use.''  In  the  same  article  attention  is  drawn  to  serious  com- 
plaints of  the  ^' Ilea  bug,-'  by  which  we  may  recognize  this  species,  in 
the  tobacco -growing  sections  of  Kentucky.  In  many  x^arts  of  that 
State  young  tobacco  plants  were  ''  literall}^  cleaned  ofi',"  and  farmers 
were  burning  and  sowing  new  beds.  A  decade  later  Mr.  H.  Garman 
gave  an  account  of  this  species  and  its  injuries  in  Kentucky  in  the 
Second  Annual  lieport  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  of  that 
State  for  1889  (pp.  30,  31).  He  observed  the  beetles  on  tobacco,  and 
stated  that  the  small  holes  which  they  gnawed  in  the  leaves  in  some 
instances  marred  their  value  seriously.  The  same  writer  briefly  men- 
tioned injury  by  this  species  to  potato  (Bull.  61,  Ky.  Agl.  Expt.  Sta., 
p.  IG). 

In  1893  Dr.  C.  Y.  Eiley  stated,  in  a  short  note  on  this  beetle,  that  it 
"did  considerable  damage  to  tobacco  plants  grown  at  the  [Maryland 
Experiment]  station  by  eating  small  holes  in  the  leaves,  giving  them  an 
unsightly  appearance,  which  naturally  reduced  materially  the  value 
of  the  crop"  (Bull.  23,  Md.  Agl.  Expt.  Sta.,  p.  89).  The  same  year  Mr. 
F.  M.  Webster  briefly  said  of  this  species  (Insect  Life,  Vol.  YI,  p.  18G) 
that  'Hhe  adults  worked  considerable  injury  to  tobacco  in  southwestern 
Ohio  by  eating  numerous  holes  in  the  leaves." 

Some  notes  iniblished  recently  would  appear  to  indicate  that  this 
beetle,  although  injurious,  is  not  wholly  useless,  though  the  damage 
which  it  causes  probably  exceeds  any  benefit  derived  through  its  work. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Cambridge  Entomological  Club,  held  January  10, 
1896,  Mr.  S.  H.  Scudder  exhibited  the  work  of  what  was  presumed  to 
be  Epitrix  parvula  on  tobacco  leaves,  received  from  Mr.  S.  E.  Elmore, 
of  Hartford,  Conn.  According  to  the  latter,  this  insect  "eats  a  small 
11930— No.  10 6 


82 

bit  from  the  leaf  of  {i^rowing  tobacco,  leavin<^  a  light  brown  spot  upon 
the  leal*  when  ready  lor  market;  these  spots  materially  increase  the 
market  valne  of  the  crop.  .  .  If  they  could  be  successfully  cultivated 
it  would  be  a  boon  to  tlie  t<jbacco  grower"  (Psyche,  \o\.  VII,  p.  347). 
Mr.  Schwarz  is  reported  as  saying  that  the  yeUow  spots  above  men- 
tioned are  due  to  fungus  as  the  beetle  eats  through  the  leaf  (Proc.  Ent. 
Soc.  Wash.,  \'ol.  IV,  p.  33).  It  is  also  stated  by  Messrs.  Hopkins  and 
Kuinsey  (Pul.  44,  W.  Va.  Agrie.  Exp.  8ta.,  p.  30(>)  that  this  insect, 
although  a  common  tobacco  pest  which  (juite  often  caused  serious 
damage  to  the  leaves,  is  also  the  source  of  ''what  is  known  as  sj)otted 
tobacco  wrapper,  which  is  considered  ornamental  for  cigars,  and  is  in 
demand  on  this  account.  This  condition  is  caused  when  spots  are  eaten 
in  the  surface  and  do  not  extend  through  the  leaf."  The  same  authors 
write  that  it  "is  very  in jui'ious  to  young  and  old  tomato  and  t'g*^  plants, 
eating  the  surface  of  the  leaf  or  i)enetrating  it  with  numerous  holes, 
causing  it  to  have  a  whitish,  sickly  appearance,"  and  that  the  species 
had  been  common  and  quite  troublesome  at  the  Experiment  Station  of 
that  State  for  a  few  years  back  (/.  r.,  p.  302). 

From  the  association  of  this  species  with  injury  to  tobaeco  it  has 
been  appropriately  named  the  tobacco  flea-beetle.  It  feeds,  appar- 
ently, in  the  adult  stage  at  least,  on  all  the  Solauaceie,  both  culti- 
vated and  wild. 

REMEDIES. 

Pyrethrum  mixed  with  about  ten  parts  of  flour  or  road  dust  has  been 
recommended  for  this  flea-beetle;  but  there  is  an  objection  to  this  in  that 
it  necessitates  too  frequent  application  for  proflt. 

Bordeaux  mixture  and  Paris  green,  combined  or  alone,  have  produced 
the  best  results. 

NOTES   ON  THE  STRAWBERRY  WEEVIL:  ITS  INJURIES  AND  BIB- 
LIOGRAPHY. 

By  F.  H.  Chittenden. 

Through  the  medium  of  the  issuance  of  Circular  No.  21  upon  the 
strawberry  weevil  (Anthonomus  su/tuitus  Say)  considerable  information 
was  gathered  in  regard  to  the  injuries  and  distribution  of  this  si)ecies. 
In  Virginia  and  INFaryland  the  usual  amount  of  injury  was  reported, 
and  in  addition  damage  to  blackberries  was  reported  in  Texas, — an 
extreme  southern  and  unexpected  locality  for  injuries  by  this  insect. 

Letters  of  incpiiry  were  received  during  .July,  with  si)ecimeus,  from 
Mr.  K.  H.  Price,  of  the  Texas  Agricultural  Exi)eriment  Station,  and 
from  Mr.  M.  V.  Slingerland,  of  the  Cornell  University  Experiment  Sta- 
tion, reporting  damage  in  Texas,  and  further  correspondence  brought 
out  the  fact  that  the  insect  was  doing  considerable  damage  in  some 
portions  of  that  State.  Mr.  James  Nimon,  of  Denison,  Tex.,  wrote, 
April  24:  ^'1  know  to  my  sorrow  that  this  species  is  one  of  the  most 
destructive  little  things  I  have  had  to  deal  with  for  some  time.     I  first 


I 


83 

noti(;e(l  (in  ISOG)  tliiit  lUiiiiy  of  tlic  blossom  buds  on  (b^Nvbcirios  tunu'd 
brown,  looking  ;is  tliough  they  had  been  bli«;hted.  *  *  ♦  It  (;on»- 
men(!es  work  as  soon  as  the  buds  appear  and  continues  as  long  as  there 
is  a  bud  left  to  work  on.  On  one  occasion  1  collected  150  cul  buds 
from  a  single  i)lant  and  two  days  later  (JO  more.  More  than  three- 
fourths  of  my  (!rop  has  been  destroyed  this  year.  They  apix^ar  to  be 
worse  on  dewberries  than  upon  the  upright  or  bush  blackberries,  but  1 
discovered  no  signs  of  their  work  on  strawberries."  Mr.  L.  W.  Clarke, 
of  the  same  locality,  wrote  on  April  28  that  this  species  was  cutting 
blackberry  buds  just  before  blossoming,  and  that  it  seriously  threatened 
the  destruction  of  the  crop  in  his  vicinity.  Mr.  E.  P.  Stiles,  editor  of 
the  *'  Horticultural  Gleaner,"  Austin,  Tex.,  wrote  that  at  Sherman,  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  State,  this  species  api)eared  in  destructive 
numbers  and  entirely  destroyed  the  blackberry  crop  of  one  of  his  cor- 
respondents.    Only  2  gallons  of  berries  were  gathered  from  2  acres. 

In  Maryland,  Mr.  W-  G.  Johnson,  of  the  Maryland  Agricultural 
Exi^eriment  Station,  has  reported  this  species  as  destroying  about  a 
third  of  the  cro])  in  portions  of  Anne  Arundel,  Prince  George,  and 
Caroline  counties.  Mr.  James  S.  Robinson,  horticulturist  of  the  same 
station,  cited  a  case  where  the  loss  on  a  patch  of  the  Michel  variety 
reached  50  per  cent.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Church  Hill,  Queen  Anne 
County,  Mr.  Fred  Minch  and  others  reported  damage.  In  1896  the 
gentleman  mentioned  lost  his  entire  crop.  Paris  green  had  been  tried, 
but  too  late  to  be  of  any  benefit,  although  it  was  noticed  to  have  killed 
a  great  many  of  the  insects.  In  this  locality  the  insect  was  known 
as  'Hhe  saw  fly,"  but  the  description  of  its  manner  of  work  plainly 
indicates  that  the  insect  noted  was  the  strawberry  weevil.  Mr.  J.  S. 
Lapham,  of  Goldsboro,  Caroline  County,  reported  the  weevil  present 
in  his  vicinity,  and  that  the  Lady  Thompson  variety  was  most  suscei)ti- 
ble  to  its  attack.  Mr.  Henry  C.  Hallowell  stated  that  the  insect  had 
been  present  in  his  neighborhood  in  recent  years  and  had  injured  about 
one-half  of  the  crop  in  the  vicinity  of  Sandy  Spring,  Montgomery  County. 
Hon.  W.  I).  Pyles  wrote  from  Silver  Hill,  Prince  George  County,  where 
the  strawberry  weevil  was  iirst  reported  as  an  injurious  species,  that  it 
had  done  considerable  damage  there  for  several  years.  He  believed 
that  tobacco  dust  and  fertilizers  spread  lightly  over  the  vines  from  the 
time  of  blooming  till  the  berry  is  of  the  size  of  a  marble  was  of  some 
value  as  a  deterrent,  but  that  nothing  that  was  tried  entirely  eradicated 
the  insects. 

In  Virginia,  Mr.  Prank  L.  Birch  sent  specimens  from  Falls  Church, 
with  the  report  that  the  insect  had  been  very  destructive  for  the 
past  four  years  at  that  place.  Mr.  John  B.  Ferratt,  of  Norfolk,  stated 
that  in  the  year  1892,  he  lost  12  acres  of  strawberry  plants  by  this 
beetle.  He  plowed  the  plants  under  and  applied  50  bushels  of  fresh- 
burnt  oyster-shell  lime  to  each  acre,  and  reports  that  since  that  time 
he  has  never  seen  or  heard  of  any  more  of  the  beetles  in  Norfolk 


84 

(bounty.  Our  corn'spoiideiit  luitlicr  writes  tliat  in  that  county  and  in 
the  ailjoininj,^  (Mumty  of  Princess  Anne,  in  wliat  is  one  of  the  greatest 
strawberry-crowing  sections  of  tlie  South,  most  of  the  crops  are  well 
cultivated,  and  it  has  heen  found  that  as  a  consequence  they  are  sel- 
<l<»ni  annoyed  ])y  insects. 

Ill  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Frank  W.  Sempers,  Doylestown,  Bucks  County, 
an  entomolojiist  of  considerable  reputation.  re])orted  the  weevil  at  work 
in  1S1>4.  lie  writes:  •' The  infested  plants  were  siirayed  witli  liordeaux 
mixture,  to  which  paris  green  was  added,  and  this  treatment  appar- 
ently i)ut  an  end  to  their  work."  The  species  was  not  noticed  doing 
injury  there,  however,  this  year.  May  <>  Mr.  John  Waltz  wrote  from 
Catawissa,  Columbia  County,  that  this  insect,  which  he  described,  was 
destroying  his  crop  for  the  year,  and  that  it  had  been  doing  so  for  sev- 
eral years.  May  24  he  sent  a  specimen  of  the  insect  found  on  straw- 
berry at  Blythedale,  M(l. 

»Iohn  C.  Andrus  rei)orted  the  species  at  Carbondale,  ill.,  ami  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  Mr.  W.  Brodie,  an  entomologist  of  Toronto,  Canada,  reported  the 
weevil  present  in  strawberry  i)atchcs  anmnd  Toronto,  but  not  injurious 
to  any  extent,  and  Mr.  Charles  Dury,  also  an  entomologist,  reported 
that  the  species  was  always  abundant  about  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  although 
no  damage  had  come  to  his  notice. 

LIST   OF   THE   MORE   IMPORTANT   WRITINGS   ON   THE   STRAWBERRY 

WEEVIL. 

1.  Say,  Thomas. — Curculiouides,  July,  1831,  p.  293;  Lee.  ed.,  v.  I, 

p.  293. 

Original  description  of  Anthonomus  signatus. 

2.  Glover,  T. — Report  Department  Agriculture,  Nov.-Dec,  1871,  p. 

179,  1  lig. 

Account  of  injury  to  stra wherry  at  Silver  Hill,  Md. :  no  tracrsof  egjjsor  larvjr; 
Hjn'cies  identilied  as  Jnthononntx  sit/natua  Say. 

3.  (iLo'vEiJ,  T. — Report  Commissioner  Agriculture  for  1871  (1872),  j). 

73,  1  tig. 

Trauscrijit  of  Glover's  tirst  article,  with  additional  short  ])araj;rai)h  on  reme- 
dies. 

4.  Leconte   and   Horn. — The    Rhynchoi»h<)ra   of  America   north   of 

Mexico.     Proc.  Am.  Phil.  Soc,  v.  XV,  p.  199  (Dec,  187G). 

Descriptive  notes  and  references  to  systematic  literature. 

5.  Cook,  A.  J.— Thirteenth  Rept.  Secy.  State  Ilort.  Soc.  Mich,  for  1883 

(1884),  pp.  154,  155,  1  fig. 

Short  account  of  injurious  appearance  at  rho-nix,  Mich.  (Upi)er  Peninsula); 
species  identilied  as  Atithonomus  muaciilus  Say;  description  «iu»»ted. 

6.  Forbes,  S.  A.— Thirteenth  Rept.  State  Entomologist  Illinois  for 

1883(1884),  pp.  114,  115. 

A  mere  4Uotatiou  of  Professor  Cook's  article. 


^ 


85 

7.  Saunders,  William. — Cjinadian  lOntomolojj^ist,  v.  XVTT,  ])]).  2.30, 

240,  Dec,  1885 J   ICitli  Ann.  Kept.  Dut  Soc.  Ontario,  1880,  i)p.  <i,  7. 

IvN'port  of  an  injnrioua  o(•(•lIlTOlH•^^  at  I»;uTi«»,  Oiifario,  Canada,  in  l«sr»;  niellwxl 
of  work  of  adult  described. 

8.  KiLEY,  C.  A\— Report  (%)mmisaioner  of  AjiTicnIture  for   1885  (188(;), 

pp.  270-282,2  figs. 

Snniinary  of  past  history;  rr])()r(  of  injuries  on  8taton  Island,  New  York,  in 
1881  and  188;");  sunniniry  of  natural  history  of  otlier  Hi)ecies  of  Anthononins; 
remedies;  characters,  synonymy,  and  th'scriptions  of  tln^  spi'cii's  and  its  color 
varieties;  comparative  table  of  j.  inKSciduti  Say  and.  A  suturalia  Loc. 

9.  LiNTNEK,  J.  A.— Third  Kept.  St.  Entom.  New  York  for  188G  (1887), 

p.  139. 

Notice  of  Riley's  account  of  injury  on  Staten  Island  in  1884  and  reference  to 
Cook's  report  (see  No.  5). 

10.  Fletcher,  Jas. — Report  Experimental  Farms,  Canada  for  1887 

(1888),  p.  37. 

Brief  mention  of  injury  to  strawberries  at  Cowansville.  Province  of  (Quebec, 
in  1887. 

11.  Krieg,  Lawrence  J. — Insect  Life,  v.  I,  p.  85.    Sept.,  1888. 

A  letter  announciuc?  damage  at  ^Etna,  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  in  1885  and  1887, 
amounting  "to  hundreds  of  dollars  on  single  plantations"  during  the  latter  year. 

12.  Cook,  A.  J.— First  Rept.  Agl.  Expt.  Station  Agl.  Coll.  Mich,  for 

1888  (1889),  PP.165-1G6, 1  fig. 

Brief  reference  to  former  appearance  and  of  damage  in  1888  at  Pontiac,  Oak- 
laud  County,  Mich. 

13.  Fletcher,  Jas. — Kept.  ExptL  Farms  Canada  for  1890  (1891),  pp. 

173-175. 

Account  of  life  history  based  on  observations  in  conjunction  with  W.  A.  Hale, 
of  Cowansville,  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada;  the  latter  had  suffered  from  the 
insect's  ravages  for  several  years;  years  of  injury  specifically  stated  are  1888, 
1889,  and  1890 ;  1887  comparatively  free  from  pest ;  injury  at  Hamilton,  Ontario,  in 
1886  also  referred  to. 

14.  Lintner,  J.  A. — Country  Gentleman,  June,  1891  j  reprint. — Eighth 

Kept.  State  Entom.  New  York,  for  1891  (1893). 

Abstract  of  letter  from  Wellham's  Crossroads,  Md.,  complaining  of  an  insect 
"that  stings  the  stem  of  strawberry  blossoms,"  etc.  As  no  specimens  accom- 
panied this  letter,  Dr.  Lintner  surmised  the  species  to  be  Corimelocna pHJicaria, 
but  the  description  of  the  injury  agrees  perfectly  with  that  of  Anthonomiis  signatus. 

15.  DiMMOCK,  Geo.— Insect  Life,  v.  lY,  p.  76.     Oct.  1891. 

A  mere  statement  of  destruction  to  buds  of  blackberries,  especially  Wachusett 
variety,  at  Canobie  Lake,  N.  H.,  in  1891. 

16.  Bruner,  L.— Ann.  Rept.  Nebraska  State  Hort.  Soc.  for  1891  (1892), 

pp.  228-229. 

No  original  observations ;  life  history  not  known  to  writer. 

17.  Dietz,.Wm.  G. — Trans.  American  Entomological  Society,  v.  XYIII, 

pp.  215-217,  PI.  vi,  fig.  15.     July,  1891. 

Detailed  descriptions  of  An tho7wm us  signatus  and  musculus;  differences  between 
the  two  species  are  indicated. 


86 

18.  TTamilton,  John. — Canadian  Entomolojifist,  v.  XXIV,  pj).  41-42. 
Feb.,  1892. 

A  (liscusHiou  of  the  specific  name  of  tlir  strawlurry  wrevil,  no  conclusion  l)t*ing 
n«iiclie<l.  Notes  t»n  tin*  «»c(urrences  of  the  adults  of  .liilliotioinus  muHciilu$  and  A. 
HujnatuH,  t\\v  former  on  huckleb»rry,  the  latter  on  Tilia,  Khus,  and  liuhus. 

\\).  r.ECKW  iTii,  M.  II.— Del.  Coll.  Agl.  Expt.  Station,  Hul.  XVIII,  pp. 
1 1-1(1,  tigs,  li  (after  Kiley).  Sept.,  1892.  Report  of  the  Entomolo- 
«,nst,  Fifth  Ann.  Kept.  Delaware  Coll.  Agl.  Expt.  Station  1892 
(1893),  p.  103.  Rev.-Insect  Life,  v.  IV,  pp.  1G9,  217;  Eut.  News, 
V.  Ill,  i)p.  202-2G3.     Dec,  1892. 

Past  history  and  descrintion  of  sjiecies  (quoted  from  Riley);  detailed  account 
of  iiijnrirs  near  Dover.  Ilartly.  Camden,  Wyomiu;;.  Smyrna,  and  Clayton,  Del. 
{{lief  account  of  rearing  exjuriments.  Kerosene  emulsion  and  white  hellebore 
suggested  as  remedies;  arsenites  discountenanced  for  fear  of  poisoning. 

29.  (Chittenden,  F.  II.— Insect  Life  v.  V,  pp.  107-186,  5  figs.  (3  orig.), 
Jan.,  1893.  Kev.  —  J.  B.  Smith,  Ent.  News,  v.  1\'  (Mar.  1893),  pp. 
88,  89. 

Review  of  past  history;  detailed  account  of  extensive  damage  in  1^92  in  por- 
tions of  Marylantl  and  Virginia:  nature  of  injury ;  in  dire«t  jiroportion  to  the 
amount  of  pollen  developed.  whi<h  exj)lains  the  greater  8uscej)tibility  of  stami- 
nate  varieties;  insect  foundto  developiu  wild  strawberry,  blackb<'rry,  an<lcin(iue- 
foil;  species identilie<l  naJutlionumHus'u/natiia^ny' ;  egg,  larva,  and  juipailescribed 
andhgur'-d;  haltits  and  life  history  detailed;  four  species  of  parasites  reared; 
as  remedies  it  is  particularly  advised  to  destroy  old  ami  wild  strawberry  vines 
and  blackberry  bushee  in  the  neighborhood  of  bearing  vines;  to  use  earliest 
staminates  as  traps  for  hil>ernated  beetles,  and  wild  l)ergamot  for  new  broo<l ;  or 
to  |)rotect  beds  with  a  cloth  covering.  Descriptions  by  W.  H.  Ashmead  of  the 
parasites,  liraeon  a nthono mi  and  Catolaccns  anthonomi  are  ajjpeuded. 

21.  Riley,  C.V.— Ann. Kept.  U.S.  Dept.  Agriculture  for  1892  (1893),  pp. 

1()2-1(J3,  pi.  IV,  figs.  1-5. 

lirief  summary  of  the  season's  observations  and  consideration  of  remedies. 

22.  Webster,  F.  M.— Bui.  45,  Ohio  Agl.  Expt.  Station,  p.  205,  1893, 

2  figs. 

Mention  of  this  insect  as  an  enemy  to  blackberry  on  the  authority  of  Dr. 
Dimmock's  letter  in  Insect  Life  (vol.  iv,  p.  7()j. 

23.  Sempers,  Frank  W. — Injurious  Insects  and   the  Ui^Ci  of  Insecti- 

cides, 1894,  p.  95, 1  fig. 

A  brief  compilation  from  Heekwith  (No.  19). 

24.  Smith,  John  B.— Rei)t.  New  Jersey  Agl.  Coll.  Expt.  Stii.  for  1893 

(1894),  pp.  470-473,  4  figs. 
Notices  of  injuries  in  soiithern  New  .Jersey,  and  short  account  of  the  speciea. 

25.  Reckwith,  M.  H. — liejmrt  of  the  Entomologist,  Sixth  Ann.  Kept., 

Delaware  Coll.  Agl.  Expt.  Sta.  1893  (1894),  p.  1G(;. 

Short  note  on  occurrence  in  strawberry  fields  in  Delaware;  caused  considerable 
damage  near  Clayton  :  no  decided  benefit  shown  by  the  yi»dd  of  fruit  from  rows 
treated  with  I5onl»au\  mixture  '*to  which  white  hellebore  and  in  some  instances 
Paris  grc*'U  was  added.'' 

*In  all  previous  articlrts,  except  the  first  four,  the  species  was  referred  to  Antho- 

voinuH  inu»citlu8  Say. 


87 

o 

2G.  Chittenden,  V.  11.— Insect  Life,  v.  VII,  i)i).  1  t-L>;5.    Oct.  li2,  1S04. 

Eev.-l'r)th  Ann.  Kept.  Knt.  Soc.  Ont.  for  1804.    Expt.  Sta.  Kecord, 

vol.  VI,  p.  5()L>. 

Account  of  infestation  in  ^^;lryl:^Hl,  Virjjinia,  l^cnnsyhjinia,  Delaware,  and 
New  .Jer8«'y,  in  18Jt3  and  ISIU  ;  rctllmd,  dewlterrv,  and  *' Idack  cap '' raHpbtiiTy, 
nanuMl  as  new  foo«l  ])laiits,  and  two  si)ecieH  of  ants  as  (^nmiics;  early  appearance 
and  liabits  of  adults;  life  cycle  ascei  tained  to  be  from  twcnty-eij^ht  to  thirty 
days;  i)roces8  of  ovi])osition  desc-ribed;  suinniary  of  injurious  a])pearances  Ironi 
1871  to  181)4;  as  reniedies,  'Mourning  over,"  trap  crctps,  swe«i])-nct,  duHtin<;  with 
lime,  etc.,  arsenical  and  kerosene  sprayin<:f  and  co\  tMin<^  beds  are  considered; 
spraying;  experiments  showed  <;ood  results,  ]>articularly  with  Paris  green;  fruit 
growers  urged  not  to  trust  entirely  to  stamiuate  varieties. 

27.  Beckwith,  M.  H.— Delaware  Coll.  Agl.  Expt.  Sta.,  Bui.  XX^'1II, 

p.  10.     eluly,  1895. 

Short  note;  little  injury  in  Delaware  in  1895;  recommends  mowing  and  burn- 
ing over  tields  after  i)icking  fruit. 

28.  Johnson,  W.  G. — Bui.  Xo.  6,  n.  s.,  Div.  Entomology,  U.  S.  Dept. 

Agriculture,  p.  65.    Dec.  28,  1896. 

Brief  mention  of  injuries  in  Prince  George  and  Montgomery  counties,  Md. 

29.  Smith,  John  B. — Economic  Entomology,  p.  231.     1896. 

A  short  popular  account. 

30.  Chittenden,  F.  H.— Bui.  No.  7,  n.  s.,  Division  of  Entomology,  U. 

S.  Dept.  Agriculture,  pp.  78-79.     Feb.  25,  1897. 

Instances  damage  by  this  insect  in  May,  1896,  at  Cherry  Dale  and  Marshall, 
Va.,  Wadalin,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore,  Md. 

31.  Chittenden,  F.  H. — Circular  Ko.  21,  2nd  ser.,  Div.  Entomology, 

U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  pp.  1-7.     Apr.  14,  1897. 

A  condensed  account  based  upon  the  same  author's  previous  writings  with 
consideration  of  same  remedies,  but  with  the  suggested  trial  of  carbolic  acid 
and  Bordeaux  mixture  as  repellants. 

32.  Johnson,  AV.  G.— Bui.  :N^o.  9,  n.  s.,  Div.  Entomology,  U.  S.  Depart- 

ment Agriculture,  p.  82.     Oct.  21,  1897. 

The  species  "  made  its  usual  attack  upon  strawberries,  and  in  many  parts  of 
Anne  Arundel,  Prince  George,  and  Caroline  counties  cut  the  crop  fully  one-third." 

GENERAL  NOTES. 

A  PECULIAR   DAMAGE   TO   THE   APPLE. 

We  show  in  the  accompanying  illustration  an  apple  received  July  7 
of  the  present  year  from  Mr.  C.  D.  Bowen,  of  Eichview,  Washington 
County,  111.  It  was  a  small  green  apple,  under  the  skin  of  which  a 
larva  had  been  mining.  The  larva  was  lost  by  Mr.  Bowen  before  the 
apple  was  sent,  but  a  cast  head  found  in  the  mine  indicates  that  the 
insect  which  did  the  damage  belongs  to  the  genus  Lithocolletis.  The 
mine  was  long,  narrow,  and  winding.  Its  color  was  pale  drab,  with  a 
brown  streak,  produced  by  the  excrement  of  the  larva  along  its  center. 
Nothing  of  this  kind  had  ever  been  brought  to  our  notice  before.  We 
know  of  no  miner  under  the  skin  of  the  fruit,  and  there  is  no  leaf-miner 
on  apple  which  makes  this  kind  of  a  mine.  There  are  serpentine  larval 
mines  in  other  rosaceous  plants,  but  none  of  this  exact  character.    The 


88 


figure  and  this  note  are  published  in  order  to  call  the  attention  of 
entomologists  and  apple  growers  to  what  seems  to  be  a  new  apple 
enemy.  The  «rentlenien  in  the  Poniological  Division  of  the  Department 
have  occasionally  seen  simihir  mines  under  the  skin  of  apples,  and  an 
effort  will  be  made  to  secure  living  specimens  in  order  to  rear  the  adult 
insect.  Mr.  \V.  V.  C'orsa,  of  that  division,  brought  us  in  November, 
from  Milford,  Del.,  ai)ple  twigs  containing  simihir  serpentine  mines 
under  the  bark  which  may  possibly  have  been  made  by  the  same  si)ecies. 
The  larva  of  (irdcUlaria  fascieUa  Cham,  makes  very  similar  mines 
under  the  skin  of  young  willow  twigs,  according  to  Mr.  l^ergande's 
observations. 

ATs'OTHER   LEAD-BOKING   INSECT. 

In  the  pages  of  Insect  Life  we  have  referred  to  two  cases  in  which 
insects  had  been  found  to  bore  into  lead.  The  first  case  was  that  of  a 
Cossus  larva,  which  had  bored  its  way  through  a  large  leaden  bullet, 
which  was  enibetldcd  in  an  oak  tree  in  wliich  the  larva  was  living.     The 

second  was  that  of  a  coleop- 
terous larva,  which  had 
bored  through  a  section  of 
lead  piping,  and  which  was 
communicated  to  us  by  Prof. 
A.  J.  Cook. 

A  new  case  was  brought 
to  our  attention  during  the 
autiunn  of  1806,  and  as  it 
was  an  instance  in  which 
expert  testimony  prevented 
litigation,  it  is  worthy  of 
record. 

A  prominent  firm  of 
plumbers  in  a  western  city 
lined    a    tank    with    sheet 


Fio.  19.— Apple  sho^ng  work  (.i   - 

leaf-ruiuer  (original). 


>\\-n  species  of 


lead  in  1894.  In  1896  the  tank  was  observed  to  leak,  and  the  hole 
which  was  found  was  sui)posed  to  have  been  made  by  a  carpenter's 
compass  having  been  dropped  into  the  tank,  thus  piercing  the  lead. 
Several  weeks  later  another  leak  of  tlie  same  appearance  was  observed 
close  to  the  first  one,  and  when  the  third  leak  was  reported  it  was  of 
such  a  serious  nature  as  to  flood  ceilings  and  soak  furniture,  carpets, 
etc.,  damaging  them  to  the  extent  of  8200  or  S-iOO.  An  investigation 
was  begun.  A  strip  of  the  sheet  lead  was  cut  out  and  a  large  number 
of  holes  were  found,  some  entirely  through  the  lead,  some  only  part  of 
the  way  through,  and  others  in  the  form  of  grooves  running  lengthwise. 
Underneath  each  hole  or  groove  a  burrow  was  found  directly  opposite 
in  the  wood,  with  wood  dust  in  the  holes.  Another  plumber  was  called 
in  by  the  owner,  and  he  stated  that,  in  his  opinion,  the  lead  had  been 
carelessly  laid  on  wood  on  which  there  nuist  have  been  fine  gravel,  and 
in  pounding  or  dressing  the  lead  out  to  a  smooth  surfiice  the  stones  had 


89 

piercod  or  nearly  ])ior(*e(l  tlio  load.  The  owner  ;n'ee])ted  this  evidence 
and  talked  about  the  matter  anioiij^  the  hest  architects  in  the  city,  some 
of  whom  guve  it  as  their  o])ini()n  that  the  trouble  was  due  to  defective 
worknianshi])  or  material,  and  as  a  result  the  ori<iinal  ])lumbin^^  tirm 
received  the  most  unfortunate  free  advertisinji"  of  a  disa«ireeable  nature. 
Local  exi)erts  were  called  in,  but  the  owner  refused  to  accept  their 
decision,  and  the  matter  was  tinally  referred  to  thisoilice.  Jioth  ])arties 
agreed  to  abide  by  the  decision  rendered.  It  was  at  once  evident  that 
the  wood  had  contained  the  larva' of  some  si)ecies  of  powder-post  beetle 
of  the  genus  Lyctus,  that  the  damage  was  caused  entirely  by  these 
insects,  and  that,  therefore,  it  could  not  be  attributed  to  lack  of  skill 
or  foresight  on  the  part  of  the  plumber. 

ICERYA   PI  RCHASI   IN   PORTUGAL   AND   THE   AZORES. 

In  Volume  III  of  Insect  Life  (p.  105)  the  writer,  in  a  dual  article  with 
the  late  Dr.  Kiley,  catalogued  the  species  of  Icerya  and  gave  as  the 
distribution  of  I.  piirchasij  Australia,  South  Africa,  New  Zealand, 
California,  and  Mexico.  Since  the  publication  of  this  article  no 
announcement  has  been  made  of  the  occurrence  of  the  insect  in  other 
countries  until  within  the  last  year  or  so  reports  have  been  published 
of  its  occurrence  in  the  Azores  Islands,  and  particularly  on  the  island 
of  San  MigueL  Dr.  Francisco  A.  Chaves,  of  the  Meteorological  Observ- 
atory, Ponta  Delgada,  in  correspondence  with  the  writer  has  recently 
assured  him  that  the  insect  does  not  occur  on  San  Miguel,  but  that  the 
scale  which  is  injuring  orange  trees  at  that  place  is  Mytilaspis  citricola. 
During  the  present  uiont^h  (February,  1897)  specimens  have  been 
received  from  Senhor  Armando  da  Silva  which  were  found  upon  orange 
trees  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  Tagus,  near  Lisbon,  Portugal, 
which  proved  upon  examination  to  be  Icerya  purchasi.  Professor  da 
Silva  in  the  meantime  had  published  in  the  ''  Annaes  de  Sciencias 
Naturaes"  (Porto,  October,  1896,  pp.  224-227)  an  important  article,  in 
which  he  gives  the  facts  not  only  regarding  this  occurrence  of  the 
scale  in  Portugal,  but  also  evidence  which  seems  to  prove  that  the 
rumors  concerning  the  Azores  were  perfectly  correct.  Professor  da 
Silva  is  familiar  with  all  the  literature  of  this  insect.  The  sx)ecies  was 
found  in  Portugal  last  May  upon  branches  of  Acacia  and  later  appears 
to  have  been  found  upon  oranges.  Professor  da  Silva  points  out  that 
in  1848-49  a  writer  in  the  "  Eevista  Universal  Lisbonense"  remarked 
that  an  insect  rather  scarce  and  unknown  to  most  zoologists,  which 
attacked  Azorian  oranges,  might  be  a  species  belonging  to  the  new 
genus  Dorthesia.  In  1878  Senhor  Joao  Machado  de  Faria  e  Maya  is  said 
to  have  recognized  the  existence  of  Icerya  purchasi  upon  oranges  on 
the  island  of  San  Miguel,  and  in  visiting  California  in  1885  he  verified 
the  exactitude  of  the  preceding  determination. ^ 

1  There  must  be  some  mistake  about  tbe  earlier  date,  since  Maskell's  original 
description  was  only  published  in  1878  and  did  not  reach  the  attention  of  entomolo- 
gists until  a  year  or  two  later. 


90 

The  iiitnMlnction  of  Icerya  into  the  Azores  is,  according  to  Professor 
tla  Silva,  a  lact  which  is  of  easy  exi)lanation.  The  orange  trees  in  these 
islands,  exiK)sed  to  the  danger  of  being  mutilated  and  torn  by  the  winds, 
have  been  i)r(>tecte<l  by  i)lanting  <ertain  trees  around  them.  Acacia 
mclanoxyUtn  and  Carhun-arpus  larif/atus^  Australiau  trees,  were  choseu 
for  this  i)urpose.  These  trees  coidd  have  served  to  transport  the  insect. 
There  seems  some  chance,  however,  that  the  insect  was  imj)ortcd  as 
early  as  1S:{7-.'W  at  Fayal,  but  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer  the  insect 
which  damaged  the  orange  trees  at  that  time  was  another  sj>ecies. 

We  have  advised  the  introduction  ()\'^^c(1alia  c((rdinaUfi  int<)  Portugal, 
and,  through  the  kindness  of  the  State  board  of  horticulture  of  Cali- 
fornia, we  have  been  able  to  send  two  shipments  of  this  beneficial  lady- 
bird to  Senhor  Alfredo  Carlos  Le  <'oq,  of  the  bureau  of  agriculture  at 
Lisbon. 

A   LITTLE-KNOWN   TINEII)   MOTH   OF   INDOOR   HABITS. 

A  little  tineid  moth  catalogued  in  the  "  List  of  Lepidoptera  of  Boreal 
America"  as  Tinea  ferruginella  lluebu.,  was  reared  during  May  of  1896 
from  a  mass  of  sweejnngs  containing  refuse  grain,  hay,  and  other  similar 
material  taken  from  the  tloor  of  a  Washington  feed  store.  About  the 
sanie  tinje  other  iiulividuals  were  noticed  flying  about  the  lights  in  the 
writer's  room,  and  later  this  species  was  n(>ticed  in  abundance  at  the 
electric  lights  in  the  business  i)ortion  of  this  city.  Captured  moths  ovi- 
jmsited  freely,  but  for  some  reason  the  moth  does  not  appear  to  have  yet 
been  reared  ah  oro  neither  here  nor  elsewhere.  Among  the  divisional 
records  is  one  of  this  species  having  bred  March  4  from  dried  leaves  in 
a  rearing  jar,  and  in  another  instance  the  adult  was  reared  from  the 
larva. 

July  16,  1896,  a  larva  was  found  by  Mr.  C.  L.  Marlatt  in  its  case 
crawling  ui)on  the  floor  of  the  basement  of  the  Department  insectary. 
It  was  confined  in  a  jar  with  dry  clover  and  similar  material,  and  the 
moth  issued  August  6.  During  the  first  week  of  September  of  the 
following  year  numerous  larval  cases  of  this  tineid  were  gathered 
from  a  difl'erent  basement  connected  with  this  office. 

The  adult  insect  has  been  observed  commonly  indoors  at  Washington 
from  ^March  4  to  December  7.  It  will  be  seen  that  it  is  to  be  tbund 
nearly  the  year  round,  and  occurs  also  most  everywhere  in  habitations 
and  in  other  buildings. 

In  Brackenridge  Clemens's  "Contributions  to  American  Lepidopter- 
ology,'^  published  in  1859,  this  species  was  described  as  new  under  the 
name  Tinea  crocicapitella^  and  in  1882  Lord  Walsingham  identified  this 
with  the  European  BlahophanvsferrmjincUa  Iluebn.  (Trans.  Am.  Knt. 
Soc,  Vol.  X,  p.  170).  Neither  of  the  above  writers  mentioned  either 
locality,  occurrence,  or  habits,  and  nothing,  so  far  as  the  writer  is 
aware,  has  been  ])ublished  concerning  the  habits  of  this  species  in 
American  literature  and  only  brief  mention  is  made  of  it  in  foreign 


91 

works.  Accor(liii<i-  to  Kuropeiiii  writers,  the  larva  has  been  reared  from 
a  case  on  seeds  of  Artemisia,  but  this  is  somewhat  unsatisfactory,  as 
there  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  exact  nature  of  the  hirval  food. 

The  hirval  case  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  clothes  moth,  Tinea  pell  to 
nella.  It  measures,  when  completed,  from  8  to  11  """  in  length  and  2  to 
3  """  in  breadth,  beinj?  about  four  times  as  long  as  wide.  It  is  about 
half  as  thick  as  wide,  and  the  sides  are  nearly  parallel,  the  narrowest 
portion  being-  usually  at  the  mouth  or  place  of  exit  and  the  widest  near 
the  middle.  It  is  dirty  dark  gray  in  color  and  is  composed  of  fine  par- 
ticles of  dust  and  such  other  material  as  naturally  accumulates  in  the 
corners  of  a  room,  joined  together  with  silken  webbing  and  sparsely 
interspersed  with  larval  excremental  pellets. 

When  at  rest  on  the  walls  or  elsewhere  in  rooms,  and  still  more 
when  in  flight,  it  is  not  without  close  examination  that  this  species 
can  be  distinguished  from  its  cousins,  the  clothes  moths,  T.  pellionella 
and  T.  MseUiella,  and  it  often  pays  the  penalty  for  this  resemblance 
when  it  ventures  within  the  vision  of  the  wrathful  housewife.  The 
mounted  moth,  however,  is  not  liable  to  be  mistaken  by  an  entomologist 
for  any  other  indoor  species.  It  is  about  the  same  size  as  the  common 
clothes  moth,  Tineola  hiseUiella,  exhibiting  the  same  variation  in  size. 
It  may  be  recognized  by  the  fore-wings,  which  are  nearly  covered  with 
blackish  scales,  except  a  bioad,  yellowish  dorsal  streak  and  a  conspic- 
uous subhyaline  median  discal  spot. 

In  addition  to  the  material  captured  and  reared  in  the  District  of 
Columbia  there  are  specimens  in  the  iS^ational  collection  from  Kirk- 
wood,  Mo.,  Wyandotte  Cave,  Kentucky,  and  California — evidence  of  a 
wide  distribution  in  this  country.  It  is  a  true  cosmopolite,  and  to  be 
found  almost  everywhere.  Abroad  it  is  known  in  central  and  south- 
ern Europe,  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Asia  Minor,  North  Africa, 
Australia,  and  Xew  Zealand. 

European  systematists  place  this  species  in  the  genus  Monopis, 
Huebn.— [F.  H.  C] 

ANOTHER    MOTH    LIKELY   TO    BE    MISTAKEN    FOR    TINEA    GRANELLA. 

To  the  list  of  moths  of  the  genus  Tinea  enumerated  in  Bulletin  No. 
8,  n.  s.  (p.  35),  as  liable  to  be  mistaken  for  Tinea  grane'Ua  Linn.,  the 
European  grain  moth,  T.  misella  Zell,  should  be  added.  Of  this  spe- 
cies Mr.  C.  S.  Gregson  is  quoted  in  the  Entomologist's  Annual  for  1857 
(p.  121)  as  follows:  "I  have  bred  it  from  unthrashed  wheat  this  year; 
it  made  up  in  the  head  and  fed  upon  the  grain.  I  formerly  bred  it 
from  the  interior  of  bean  stalks,  for,  seeing  the  pupa  cases  projecting 
from  the  stalks,  I  split  up  several  stems  and  so  found  the  larva." — 
[F.  H.  C] 


92 

PARASITES   OF   BEAN   AND   COWPEA  A^TSEVTLS. 

It  lias  always  been  a  matter  of  surprise  and  coinineut  tliat  our  rom- 
inoM  beau  and  i)ea  weevils  were  not  jiarasitized,  since  t\w  allied  cowpea 
weevils  and  various  otlier  brucliids  that  attack  only  wild  plants  were 
known  to  have  chalcidid  parasites  whi(;h  pi'cyed  upon  tlicni,  often  in 
great  nund>er8.  During  the  year  that  nas  just  passed  the  writer  was 
successful  in  rearing  a  parasite  of  the  bean  weevil,  and  the  occasion  is 
taken  to  present  notes  on  all  the  i)arasites  of  the  legume-feeding  bru- 
ehids  which  have  been  identilied  at  this  tiiui'.  The  determinations  of 
the  parasites  are  by  Mr.  VV.  H.  Ash  mead. 

/'Jupclmns  ryanireps  Ashm. — September  21,  1807,  the  writer  reared 
what  is  probably  the  lirst  i)ai'asite  known  of  the  weevil,  Jiniclius  ohtcctm 
Say.  It  was  in  beans  brought  to  this  office  by  Mr.  Frank  Benton  from 
Berwyn,  ]Md.,  and  it  oc^curred  in  some  numbers.  This  si)ecies  has  pre- 
viously been  mentioned  by  the  writer  as  having  bred  from  the  seed 
pods  of  false  indigo  {Amorpha  fruiicoHa)  inhabited  by  liruchus  exufuus 
(Insect  Life,  Vol.  V,  p.  250). 

Bruchobius  hfticollis  Ashm. — October  18,  dead  specimens  were  received 
from  Dr.  C.  F.  Parker,  Mentone,  Ala.,  with  living  individuals  of  the 
beetle  of  Bruchns  ohtectuH  in  beans.  This  is  a  common  parasite  of 
Bruchtis  4-maculatus.  The  Department  has  received  si)ecimens  from 
several  localities  in  beans  and  cowi)eas  infested  by  this  latter  weevil, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  Washington,  D.  C,  Lake  City,  Fla.,  and 
Chicago,  111.  At  the  last-mentioned  place  numerous  specimens  were 
taken  in  seed  from  Brazil  exhibited  at  the  Columbian  Exposition.  At 
the  Atlanta  Exposition  the  sj)ecies  occurred  in  material  from  Venezuela. 

Cephalonomia  sp. — A  single  exami)le  reared  from  beans  from  Vene- 
zuela, infested  by  B.  4-maculatus  and  exhibited  at  the  Columbian 
Exposition. 

Aplastomorpha  prattii  Ashm.  MS.  was  reared  from  Bruchus  imacxi- 
latus  in  cowpeas  brought  to  the  Division  by  Mr.  F.  C.  Pratt  from  a 
store  at  Washington,  D.  C,  November,  189(>.— [F.  H.  C] 

INJURY    1\Y    THE    WESTERN    FLEA-BEETLE,   PHYLLOTRETA    PUSILLA 

UOKN. 

July  10,  1807,  specimens  of  the  small  blackish  flea-beetle  known  as 
BhiiUoireia puHiUa  were  received  from  Mr.  D.  A.  Piercy,  Kennedy,  Nebr., 
with  the  accompanying  statement  that  the  species  had  destroyed 
between  10  and  UO  acres  of  corn  in  twenty-four  hours.  In  gardens  they 
were  stated  to  destroy  everything.  They  came  in  swarms  of  black 
clouds  and  covered  the  plants.  Our  correspondent  writes  that  a  strong 
solution  of  soai)suds  killed  the  beetles  instantly,  and  that  a  mixture 
of  fresh  cow  manure,  wet  up  so  as  to  be  sprinkled  on  the  plants  with  a 
brush  or  coarse  sprinkler,  would  also  drive  the  beetles  away. 

Later  in  the  month  Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Henry,  of  Hill  City,  S.  Dak., 
complained  of  a  ^'flea'' — a  name  commonly  applied  by  farmers  to  flea 


03 

beetles — that  was  troublesome  on  cabbage  and  other  (nuciferous  crops 
in  his  vicinity.  At  our  request  he  sent  specimens  of  the  insect,  which 
proved  to  be  also  Phi/Jlofrrta  inislUa^  with  the  statement  that  only  a 
single  grower  in  his  neighborhood  had  saved  any  cabbage,  all  others 
having  given  np  the  fight  against  this  ilea  beetle.  In  addition  to  cab- 
bage this  species  was  injurious  to  radish,  horseradish,  and  turnip,  and 
was  stated  also  to  injure  peas.  On  the  last-mentioned  i)lant  they  ate 
the  lower  leaves  or  lower  part  of  the  stalk.  Out  of  a  thousand  good 
cabbage  plants  our  correspondent  saved  only  a  hundred.  The  beetles 
seemed  to  prefer  the  younger  plants,  but  thrive  also  upon  the  older 
ones.  A  neighbor  of  our  correspondent  reported  that  he  had  not  raised 
a  turnip  for  seven  years  on  account  of  this  insect.  The  species  was 
stated  to  prevail  in  injurious  abundance  throughout  the  region  of  the 
Black  Hills.  The  beetles  were  first  noticed  the  last  week  of  June,  and 
seemed  to  disappear  somewhat  toward  the  end  of  July. 

THE   WINDROW   REMEDY  FOR  BLISTER  BEETLES. 

Correspondence  of  this  Division  and  readers  of  Insect  Life  will 
remember  that  we  have  often  recommended  as  a  remedy  against  blister 
beetles  to  drive  them  into  windrows  of  hay,  straw,  or  other  light  mate- 
rial and  then  destroy  them  by  setting  the  material  on  fire.  Very 
recently  somebody  doubted  the  value  of  this  expedient;  so,  on  the  next 
occasion  of  reported  blister  beetle  damage  in  a  locality  where  these 
insects  occurred  in  great  abundance,  we  requested  information  concern- 
ing the  value  of  this  remedy,  which  we  had  recommended  in  a  letter  of 
May  22,  Our  correspondent,  Mr.  E.  W.  King,  of  Lostprong,  Tex.,  was 
troubled  with  Upicauta  lemniscata^  which  was  very  destructive  to  beets, 
potatoes,  cabbage,  and  corn  upon  his  place,  but  it  was  also  very  abun- 
dant on  ''careless  weed,"  this  latter  habit  being  convenient  for  the 
experiment.     Under  date  of  June  3,  Mr.  King  writes  as  follows: 

"We  took  some  old  hay  out  of  the  barn,  made  windrows  about  18 
inches  high,  2  feet  wide,  and  40  feet  long  and  commenced  to '  switch '  them 
into  the  loose  hay.  A  stiff  breeze  was  blowing  and  we  hnvw^d.  millions^ 
as  they  drive  easily.  Of  course  we  did  not  kill  all,  but,  strange  to  say, 
they  have  entirely  disappeared  from  this  ranch." 

WHITE   GRUBS   OP   ALLORHINA  NITIDA   INVADING  A   CELLAR. 

August  19  Hon.  William  P.  Miller,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  sent  to  this 
oflBce  a  box  of  specimens  containing  the  larvae  and  an  imago  of  the 
green  June  beetle,  Allorhina  nitidaj  with  the  information  that  the 
larvae  which  were  infesting  the  grass  in  the  lawn  about  his  house  had 
formed  the  disagreeable  habit  of  burrowing  through  tiny  crevices  in 
the  foundations  of  the  walls  and  entering  the  cellar,  where  they  mean- 
dered around  on  the  cemented  floor,  causing  great  annoyance.  The 
worm  did  no  damage  in  the  cellar,  but  was  considered  a  great  nuisance. 
Our  correspondent  writes  that  as  many  as  40  of  these  grubs  were 
caught  iu  twenty-four  hours  in  the  cellar. 


94 

III  answer  to  our  iiilereiicc  that  iiiaiiiire  ini^lit  have  been  used  on 
the  lawn  and  that  the  insects  were  tlius  conveyed  to  it,  Mr.  Miller 
wrote,  under  (hite  of  Aufrnst  2."),  that  such  was  not  the  case,  but  our 
theory  that  there  mi^ht  be  decayin^^  vej,^etable  nuitter  in  the  soil  w^as 
correct.  Four  large  maple  trees  had  been  cut  down  on  this  lawn,  all 
more  or  less  rotten,  and  the  roots  of  these  were  still  in  the  ground.  All 
of  this  goes  to  sui)port  our  assumption  that  the  white  grubs  of  this 
species  feed  upon  vegetable  humus  rather  than  upon  living  roots  or 
similar  vegetation.  Mr.  Miller  further  writes  that  about  thirty  speci- 
mens of  the  larva'  were  captured  while  they  were  crossing  bins  of  coal. 
By  listening  closely  a  lump  of  coal  would  be  heard  to  move.  Locating 
the  direction  and  watching  the  coal  the  lump  would  be  seen  moving. 
The  larva'  were  cai»tured  under  these  lum[)s. 

IJK1M»I{TED  I)AMA(rK    M\    TIU:    GKEEN    rLANT-llUG,  LIODEEMA  UHLERI 

STAL. 

June  30,  1897,  Mr.  Peter  Nieveen,  of  Nieveen,  S.  Dak.,  wrote  to  this 
Division  that  the  above  species  was  doing  great  damage  to  all  kinds  of 
grain  in  his  section  of  Charles  Mix  County.  He  said  that  the  species 
had  been  observed  along  the  Missouri  Kiver  banks  for  several  years  on 
trees,  but  they  did  no  damage  to  crops  until  the  year  189G.  Some 
farmers,  our  correspondent  stated,  had  lost  nearly  all  of  their  corn  and 
wheat.  A  tield  of  oats  invaded  by  them  was  observed  to  be  about  two- 
thirds  destroyed  in  just  a  week  from  the  time  that  the  insects  were  first 
noticed. 

September  0,  1897,  Mr.  De  Alton  Saunders,  botanist  and  entomolo- 
gist of  the  experiment  station  of  South  Dakota,  located  at  Brookings, 
wrote  that  he  had  visited  the  infested  region  and  that  this  plant-bug 
was  doing  all  that  had  been  claimed  concerning  it. 

There  are  Divisional  records  of  the  receipt  of  this  species  during  the 
past  two  years  from  E.  S.  Kichman,  of  Logan,  Utah,  w^ho  sent  speci- 
mens with  the  report  that  the  species  was  doing  considerable  injury  to 
wheat  in  Millard  County,  Utah,  and  from  Mr.  K.  H.  Price,  of  the  Texas 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at  College  Station,  who  reports,  under 
date  of  September  IG,  1S95,  that  this  species  w^as  responsible  for  the 
destruction  of  40  acres  of  peas  and  2  acres  of  lima  beans  at  Toyahvale, 
Tex.  In  addition  to  the  localities  mentioned,  it  should  be  stated  that 
this  species  was  described  originally  from  Mexico,  and  that  it  was 
recorded  also  from  Colorado,  and  that  we  have  received  it  from  Tucson, 
Ariz. 

ON   THE   FOOD   HABITS   OF   THE   HAKLECJUIN   CABBAGE   BUG. 

Since  the  recorded  occurrence  of  Mnrrfanfia  hisfriojiica  Hahn,  upon 
asparagus  and  other  plants  by  the  writer  in  lUilletin  No.  7,  new  series, 
of  this  Division  (p.  80),  a  number  of  new  observations  have  been  made 
uj)on  its  food  habits.     This  insect  is  now  present  on  every  farm  and 


95 

gjinlen  within  several  miles  of  Wsisliin<:^t()n  in  which  cruciferous  ])hints 
are  «>towu  that  the  writer  and  other  niembers  of  the  Division  liave 
had  occasion  to  visit,  and  is,  everything*  considered,  by  tar  tljc  worst 
insect  pest  with  which  the  farmer  has  to  deal.  It  is  known  locally  as 
the  "terrapin  bug,"  which  is  often  shortened  to  "tar'pin  bug,"  and  in 
some  localities  is  called  "  lire  bug,"  both  names  sufficiently  suggestive 
as  to  require  no  explanation. 

Injury  is  very  noticeable  on  horseradish,  and  if  the  species  keeps  on 
at  the  present  rate,  without  an  ettbrt  being  made  to  suppress  it,  in  a 
few  years  it  will  be  almost  impossible  to  grow  tliis  condiment  in  this 
vicinity.  The  farmers,  generally,  have  not  awakened  to  the  occasion, 
and  have  taken  no  measures  whatever  for  the  insect's  suppression 
beyond  occasional  hand-picking. 

The  experience  of  recent  years  shows  that  it  is  the  rule  with  this 
species,  when  it  has  exhausted  cruciferous  crops,  to  attack  whatever 
other  succulent  plant  is  most  available  and  palatable. 

On  one  farm  at  Tennallytowu,  ©.  0.,  an  entire  field  of  10,000  cabbage 
plants  Avas  completely  ruined,  and  when  visited  the  first  week  in  October 
the  field  was  deserted.  An  adjoining  field  of  potatoes  was  next  attacked, 
and  also  one  of  eggplant,  and  numerous  individuals  (ff  this  bug  in  all 
stages  were  observed  sucking  the  juices  of  these  plants.  Unripe  fruit 
of  eggplant  appeared  to  be  particularly  relished,  and  ripe  pods  of 
okra  were  occasionally  attacked.  The  bugs  are  also  very  partial*  to 
certain  wild  plants,  the  pigweed  (Amarantus  retroflexus),  wild  lettuce 
(Lactuca  canadensis) y3i,ud  lambsquarter  {Chenopodium)  being  favorites. 
They  congregate  in  all  stages  and  on  all  parts  of  these  plants,  but 
appear  to  prefer  the  stems.  The  stems  of  beans  were  attacked,  as  were 
also  the  pods. 

The  value  of  a  trap  crop  was  exemplified  the  present  year  in  a  garden 
near  Cabin  John,  Md.  The  insect  was  present  in  innumerable  hordes 
upon  a  large  plat  of  kale,  and. between  this  plat  and  the  cabbage  grown 
in  the  same  garden  a  considerable  space  intervened.  After  the  kale 
had  matured  and  the  seeds  had  formed,  the  insects  still  remained  upon 
the  plants,  where  they  could  readily  have  been  killed  with  crude  kero- 
sene, strong  kerosene  emulsion,  or  by  fire.  They  were  permitted  to 
remain  there,  however,  and,  in  the  course  of  time,  found  their  way  to 
the  cabbage  beds  and  to  the  radishes  which  gtew  nearby. — [F.  H.  C] 

FOOD  PLANTS  OF  THE  "COTTON  STAINER." 

In  Volume  I,  Insect  Life  (pp.  234-241),  the  editors  published  an  article 
upon  Dysdercus  suticrellus,  especially  in  its  relation  to  ripe  oranges. 
It  was  there  stated  that  the  insect  is  found  in  the  winter  time  in  Florida 
upon  two  si^ecies  of  Hibiscus,  upon  Guava,  upon  Urena  lohata,  which  is 
locally  known  as  Spanish  cocklebur,  and  upon  Solanum  nigrum^  locally 
known  as  poisonous  nightshade.  Mr.  B.  M.  Hampton,  of  Frostproof, 
Fla.,  has  found  this  insect  abundant  and  «lestructive  upon  certain 


96 

Taii<rt*rine  oraiip:©  troes  during  December,  1S97.  Tie  found  them  also 
imiKaiiriii^  rosebuds  and  blossoms,  the  seed  pods  of  the  Jamaica  Indian 
sorrel  {Ifibiscus  suhduriffd),  the  pods  and  blossoms  of  the  oleander,  and 
the  ripe  fruit  of  the  tropical  or  melon  i)apaw  {Car lea  papaya).  It  has 
been  supposed  that  thr  insect  breeds  normally  upon  certain  wild 
species  of  Hibiscus,  and  it  is  important  from  a  remedial  standi)oint 
that  this  breeding  plant  be  ascertained. 

COLLECTING   LOCUST   EGGS   IN   MOEOCCO. 

Mr.  D.  N.  Burke,  United  States  consul-general  at  Tangier,  informed 
the  Department  of  State,  under  date  of  March  19,  181)7,  that  locusts 
had  appeared  in  great  numbers  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  Empire 
of  Morocco.  The  foreign  merchants  of  the  coast  towns  and  some  of 
the  farmers  raised  a  fund  by  subscription  to  emph)y  the  poor  of  the 
ditt'erent  localities  to  gather  the  eggs  and  destroy  them,  just  as  in  the 
past  few  years  has  been  done  by  the  French  Government  in  Algiers. 
Up  to  March  12,  Mr.  Burke  had  been  informed  by  the  consular  agent 
at  Satli,  about  1,000  hundredweight  had  been  gathered  at  a  cost  of 
about  8900.  The  last  price  paid  at  Satii  was  about  40  cents  per  hun- 
dredweight. If  is  estimated  that  each  pound  of  eggs  contains  from 
GOO  to  700  egg  pods,  and  each  of  the  pods  about  00  eggs.  Tlie  destruc- 
tion of  1,000  hundredweight,  therefore,  means  the  destruction  of  nearly 
6,000,000,000  locusts.  In  the  collecting  it  is  further  estimated  that 
almost  an  equal  number  of  egg-pods  are  injured  and  destroyed  by  the 
natives  in  going  over  the  ground  while  collecting  and  digging  them  uj). 

POISONING   GRASSHOPPERS   IN  NATAL. 

A  modification  of  the  bran-arsenic  mash  method  of  killing  destruc- 
tive lo<!Usts  or  grasshoppers,  first  used,  we  believ^e,  in  California  against 
the  '^ devastating  locust'^  (Melanoplus  devastator)  and  afterwards  in 
Virginia  against  the  '^American  locust"  (Schistocerca  americana),  and 
since  also  used  in  different  parts  of  the  country  as  a  remedy  against 
cutworms,  has  recently  been  used  to  very  good  advantage  in  Natal 
against  the  migratory  locust  which  occasionally  ravages  the  cultivated 
plantations  and  which,  during  the  last  few  years,  have  been  especially 
numerous  and  destructive.  The  report  has  been  published  as  a  Gov- 
ernment notice.  The  mixture  used  consists  of  4  gallons  of  water, 
heated  to  a  boiling  point,  to  which  1  pound  of  caustic  soda  is  added. 
As  soon  as  this  is  dissolved,  1  pound  of  arsenic  is  added,  after  which 
the  li(piid  is  stirred  and  boiled  for  a  few  minutes,  care  being  taken  not 
to  inhale  the  fumes.  A  half  gallon  of  the  resulting  liquid  is  added  to 
4  gallons  of  hot  or  cold  water  with  10  jxiundsof  brown  sugar,  or  a  half 
gallon  of  the  poison  is  added  to  ~>  gallons  of  treacle.  Cornstalks,  grass, 
or  other  vegetation  dipped  in  this  mixture,  are  placed  along  the  roads 
and  in  the  fields,  and  the  Yu\nn\  can  also  be  splashed  with  a  brush  upon 
anything  for  which  the  locusts  are  known  to  have  a  liking.  They 
will  be  attracted  for  a  distance  of  as  much  as  100  yards  and  die 


97 

after  eating.  The  dead  bodies  of  tliose  thus  killed  are  eaten  by  other 
loeiists  and  'Mn  a  few  days'  time  the  ground  may  beeome  strewn  with 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  iuseets."  These  facts  are  gained  from  Nature, 
September  30,  1887. 

COLLECTING   URASSHOPPERS  IN   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  among  entomologists  that  the  State 
laws  of  New  Hampshire  provide  for  the  paying  of  a  bounty  for  all 
grassho])pers  collected  and  destroyed  in  the  montlis  of  June  and  July. 
The  amount  of  such  bounty  is  $1  for  each  bushel  of  grasshoppers,  the 
l^ayment  to  be  made  by  the  selectmen  of  the  town  in  which  the  insects 
were  destroyed.  The  amount  wiiich  the  State  has  expended  in  the 
eleven  years — 1885  to  1895 — has  not  been  great,  and  only  reaches  a 
total  of  1,1)81'^  bushels,  for  which  $1,982.77  has  been  paid  by  the  State. 

The  number  of  bushels  upon  which  bounties  have  been  paid  during 
these  years  have  been  as  follows : 


Year. 

Bushels. 

Amount. 

1 

Year. 

Bushels. 

Amount. 

1885 

907,^0 

542i 

268| 

$907.  90 
542.  37 
268.  75 
21.00 
18.50 
75.25 
3.00 

1892 
189:5 
1894  . 
1895 

1886 

1887 

106 
40 

$106.  00 
40.  00 

1888 

1889 

Total 

1890 

1,  982.  77 

1,  982.  77 

1891 

NOTES  FROM  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Datana  angusii  injuring  pecans  in  Mississippi. — Under  date  of  August  26,  1897, 
Mr.  John  Kelly,  of  Mississippi  City,  Miss.,  wrote  to  this  office  that  the  caterpillars 
of  Datana  angusii,  specimens  of  which  he  sent  us,  were  very  injurious  in  rows  of 
pecan  trees  upon  his  own  and  neighboring  plantations.  At  this  time  he  states  that 
200  trees  of  from  15  to  20  years  old  in  his  own  grove  were  very  much  injured,  fully 
one-half  of  them  being  entirely  defoliated,  while  the  remainder  were  more  or  less 
affected,  'i'he  insect,  which  he  describes  as  a  scourge,  had  not  been  noticed  in  that 
locality  before.  The  insects  were  present  only  upon  pecans,  which  were  denuded  in 
a  very  short  time.  Our  correspondent  was  employing  about  the  best  remedy  known 
for  this  species,  namely,  burning  them  from  the  branches,  and  he  writes  us  that  he 
had  destroyed  fully  2  bushels  of  these  caterpillars.  Every  day  a  fresh  colony  was 
discovered  until  the  time  of  writing. 

Abundance  of  Catocala  lacrymosa  at  Brookhaven,  Miss. — July  1, 1897,  Messrs. 
J.  J.  Stamps  and  Ira  L.  Parsons,  of  Brookhaven,  Miss.,  sent  specimens  of  Cafocala 
lacrymosa  Gn.  to  this  office,  with  the  statement  that  during  the  latter  days  of  June 
only  a  few  of  these  insects  were  to  be  seen,  but  that  at  the  date  of  writing  thou- 
sands appeared  at  noon  during  hot  weather,  invading  the  houses  in  hundreds,  and 
that  where  the  bark  was  knocked  off  the  oak  trees  they  congregated  at  dark  in  grt^at 
numbers  to  suck  the  sap  which  oozed  out.  They  were  noticed  all  about  that  portion 
of  the  (country,  and  were  so  numerous  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  all  observers. 

The  pear-tree  borer  in  Mississippi.— A  correspondent  at  Kirkwood,  Miss.,  Mr. 

E.  H.  Anderson,  wrote  us,  under  date  of  June  18,  1897,  of  an  insect  that  injuriously 

affected  the  pear  in  his  vicinity.     The  accompanying  specimens  proved  to  be  the 

larvte  of  the  pear-tree  borer  (Sesia  j)yri  Hair.).     This  species  is  fairly  abundant  in 

11930— No.  10 7 


98 

tin-  Northern  States,  Imt   Mississippi   is,  wc  believe,  tli«-  farthest  southern  locality 
r«coriletl  lor  it. 

Remedy  for  cabbage  -worms. — Mr.  (ienrj^e  \V.  Nnt/e,  of  Sullivan.  Iiid.,  writes, 
inuhrdate  of  Au^iist  L'.  1X7!*,  that  he  has  rid  his  tabbage  patch  of  worius  by  spray- 
ing with  the  following  inixtiiri's: 

(hu-fouith  poiiml  jMtwdend  alum. 

One  ])ound  roar>e  salt. 

One  )>oun(l  shickcd  linic 

Dissolved  in  one-half  gallon  IkM  water. 

Applied  at  the  rate  of  abont  tlir<»-  llnid  (mhk  es  to  a  Inieket  of  wat^T. 

The  rice  grub  beetle  at  electric  lights  in  New^  Orleans. — I'nder  date  of  Sept^Mn- 
l»er  II,  lHi»7,  Mr.  Chris.  V.  llaile,  of  New  Orleans,  La.,  writes  that  the  ])e6tles  of  the 
riee  grub  Clialepua  tra<hypif(fim,  speeiniensof  whieli  were  sent,  were  swarming  during 
the  fust  week  of  September  in  great  numbers  about  the  electrie  lights  of  his  eity, 
and  that  the  ground  was  covered  with  their  dead  bodies.  He  writes:  ''They  were 
swept  up  in  piles  to  be  carted  away,  and  when  left  too  long  the  stench  was  almost 
unbearable.  Wheue\  er  mashed  on  the  ]>avement  a  large  greasesj>ot  was  made,  and 
at  the  street  intersections,  where  the  electric  cars  stopped  to  put  otf  jiassengers,  the 
rails  were  so  greasy  that  it  was  dilhi-ult  to  again  start  the  cars.  The  beetles  reap- 
peaied  last  night,  but  the  swarms  around  the  electric  lights  were  not  cpiite  so  dense." 

Injury  by  the  bark-beetle,  Dendroctonns  rutipennis. — Under  date  of  June  5,  1K97 
Mr.  Austin  Cary  writes  from  Colebrook,  N.  II.,  that  the  above-mentioned  species  of 
scolytid  bark-beetle,  specimens  of  which  he  sends,  has  Ijeen  found  in  sprnce  timber 
in  his  vicinity,  where  it  is  apparently  the  cause  of  consideralde  injury.  It  is  present 
in  a  tract  of  virgin  timber,  upon  which  many  trees,  single  and  in  groups,  are  dead; 
«»thers  are  .just  <lying  or  are  partially  atfected.  Rejiorts  of  injury  by  this  species  are 
comparatively  rare.  We  have  received  the  species  from  Lafayette,  Ind.,  from  Mr. 
F.  M.  Webster.  Mr.  Harrington  has  observed  it  to  be  very  injurious  to  tamarack  in 
Canada,  and  Mr.  Schwarz,  to  the  same  tree  in  Michigan  and  to  Engelmann's  spruce 
{I'irea  eniidtiianni)  in  tlie  Wasatch  Mountains  of  Utah. 

Injuriousness  of  Pieris  protodice.  —  Specimens  of  the  cabbage  buttertly,  PieriH 
proto(U(e,  were  received  during  August.  lSi>7,  from  Dr.  Kichard  E.  Kun/«'\  with  the 
statement  that  the  species  is  very  injurious  to  seedling  plants  of  caulitlower  and 
cabbage  in  the  Salt  River  Valley,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Plnenix,  Ariz.,  where  it 
was  reported  to  have  destroyed  between  75,0(X)and  100,000  plants.  The  caterpillars 
appeared  to  jirefer  the  cauliflower  to  the  cabbage. 

Injury  by  the  silver-pine  tortricid  to  Douglas  spruce  in  Oregon.— Mr.  Lincoln 
Taylor,  of  Cottage  Grove,  <  Meg.,  writes,  under  date  ol'  September  'A,  that  the  so-calle<l 
8ilver-i)ine  tortricid,  r;rrt;;/fo/j/Art  hiacteatnna  J'ern.,  has  lieen  very  injurious  to  the 
cones  of  the  Douglas  sj)ru<'e,  I'sciidotsuga  douf/Jasii,  in  his  vicinity.  Our  correspond- 
ent was  gathering  the  seed  for  maik«t,  and  found  that  this  insect,  with  thi'  larva-  of 
a  cecidomyiid  lly  which  accomi)anied  it,  had  injured  abont  one-half  the  present  sea- 
son's croj)  of  st-ed. 

Heterocampa  manteo  on  oak. — November  IS,  1897,  Mr.  .lames  M.  Kelley  sentto  this 
oHice  the  larva-  of  lleterovampa  manteo,  with  tlu^  report  that  they  were  destroying  all 
the  leaves  on  oak  and  black-jack  at  Damascus,  Miss.  In  the  notes  of  the  Divisitm 
this  species  is  recorded  to  attack  oak,  persiunuon.  and  walnut,  larva- having  b<-en 
found  by  Mr.  Th.  Pergande  at  ditl'erent  times  from  June  IS  to  September  1*9  on  these 
trees  in  Virginia  in  the  neighborhood  of  Washington. 

The  malodorous  carabid,  Noniius  pygmaeus,  in  Oregon. — Through  the  kind- 
ness ot  l'r(»f.  K'anisey  Wright  wc  ha\e  receixcd  a  specimen  «>f  \om\ns  piffjmaens,  with 
a  short  note  on  its  disagneabh-  odor,  from  Dr.  A.  C.  Panton,  of  INutland.  Oreg. 
A]>ropros  «»f  Mr.  IJarrows's  i)aper  on  the  same  species,  in  Hullctin  9  of  this  series,  the 
following  abstract  is  given  : 

''Today  1  sent  you  some  small  beetles,  which  are  rare  in  this  country,  but  whicli 
I  have  never  seen  anywhere  else;  and  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  they  might  be  new 


911 

to  you.  Thcii-  most  striking;  peculiarity  to  the  ordiiiarN  ohst  r\  «i  is  IIh-  cxtiriiiil\ 
otiensivt^  odor  they  emit,  ospeci.illy  when  rriislu<l.  This  immChiiio  is  Himi)ly  iiit)i(;:ir- 
aldf,  that  ol"  lh«s  skiuik  brin^j^  poachos  and  cro.im  in  comparison.  1  lia\<^  met  with 
these  beetles  only  thro<^  times  in  a  residence  of  lirtoen  years  in  this  country.  I  Im; 
lirst  time  one  of  them  Hew  into  my  face  at  niijjlit  and  I  crushed  it  witli  my  li;uid, 
\vith  the  eftcct  of  "getting  some  of  the  fumes  into  my  eye,  where  it  set  up  a  distressing 
irritation.     One  can  not  wash  the  smell  from  his  hands." 

Voracity  of  Hippodamia  glacialis. — Mrs.  W.  II.  Pinnoy,  of  Springliehi,  Mass., 
writes  us  that  she  took  a  tiny  larva  of  Hippodamia  glacialis,  jdaced  it  in  a. jelly  glass 
aiul  fed  it  on  the  larva-  of  the  elm-leaf  beetle.  Before  tiansCorming  it  devoured  71 
of  these  larv:e.  Mrs.  Pinney  found  it  to  l»e  an  important  enemy  of  the  elm  le:if-l»eetle 
during  the  summer  of  1897. 

Injury  to  chrysanthemums  by  Corythuca  irrorata. — On  Juno  20,  1897,  si)ecimeu8 
were  received  at  this  oftice  of  the  little  tingitid  l)ug  Corythuca  irtorata  Kiley,  from 
the  Florists'  Exchange,  of  Xew  York  City,  with  the  information  that  the  species  was 
infesting  chrysanthemum  leaves.  These  insects  were  received  from  a  grower  in  Ala- 
bama, who  stated  that  they  attacked  the  underside  of  the  leaves,  causing  them  to 
turn  brown  and  die.  Kerosene  emulsion  and  tobacco  had  been  used  against  the  pest, 
but  the  correspondent  wrote  that  ''they  just  sit  up  and  call  for  more."  The  corre- 
spondent was  advised  to  give  them  more. 

A  Psyllid  (Trioza  diospyri)  injuring  Chinese  persimmons.— Mr.  Thomas  O. 
Fulkersou  writes  from  Tazewell,  Tenn.,  August  6,  1897, that  the  little  Psyllid  {Trioza 
diospi/ri),  specimens  of  which  he  sent,  crumples  and  rolls  the  leaves  of  Chinese  per- 
simmons, but  does  not  affect  the  native  persimmons  15  feet  away. 

Plant-lice  injury  to  tomato. — Dr.  T.  P.  Phelps  writes,  under  date  of  June  13,  from 
Mount  Holly,  Md.,  that  a  species  of  plant  louse  is  doing  great  injury  to  early  toma- 
toes upon  his  place.  Our  correspondent  sent  specimens  which  prove  to  belong  to 
the  genus  Siphonophora  and  agree  with  Thompson's  description  of  Erigeronen8is,iMMl 
stated  that  unless  something  were  done  in  a  remedial  way  his  crop  would  be  ruined. 
The  same  species  occurs  on  tomato  in  the  District  of  Columbia  on  the  grounds  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  and  elsewhere,  but  we  have  no  record  of  damage  by  it. 

Parasites  of  goats. — During  September,  1897,  specimens  were  received  from  the 
Angora  ranch  of  H.  T.  Fuchs,  at  Tiger  Mill,  Tex.,  of  the  goat  louse,  Trichodectes 
limhatus  Gerv.  These  lice  were  in  a  sample  of  mohair,  and  were  somewhat  trouble- 
some on  the  Angora  goats. 

Specimens  of  another  parasite  of  Angora  goats  were  received  during  the  same 
month  from  Mr.  Charles  P.  Lounsbury,  Cape  Town,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  South 
Africa,  which  were  identified  by  Prof.  Herbert  Osboni  as  Haemalopinns  stenopsis. 

November  5  we  received  from  Mr.  Frank  M.  Jones,  of  Wibnington,  Del.,  specimens 
of  Trichodectes  climax  Xitzsch,  clipped  from  a  Chinese  goatskin,  which  bore  evidence, 
as  our  correspondent  writes,  of  the  presence  and  abundance  of  goat  lice  in  China. 

The  house  crab  spider  as  a  destroyer  of  flies. — A  correspondent  at  Riesel,  Tex., 
Mr.  W.  E.  Sherrill,  writes,  under  date  of  July  19,  that  the  little  house  spider  known 
as  Philodromiis  vulgaris  Hentz,  has  a  practically  exclusive  diet  of  house  flies.  He 
has  taken  the  trouble  to  pick  up  the  Hies  killed  by  this  spider,  and  writes  that  the. 
first  week  106  were  gathered,  the  second  week  76,  and  the  third  week  94,  an<l  that 
one  day,  when  Hies  seemed  to  be  more  plentiful  than  usual,  the  spider  captured  27. 

A  wasp  parasite. — Dr.  A.  Oemler  has  sent  specimens  of  the  interesting  tachina 
fly,  Pachyophthalmus  fioridensis,  which  his  daughter  observed  attempting  to  oviposit 
upon  the  common  mud-dauber  wasp,  Pelopwus  cementarins.  This  fly  has  previously 
been  reared  by  Mr.  Webster  in  Ohio,  and  also  by  Dr.  Davidson  in  California ;  by  the 
former  from  the  nests  of  Trypoxylon,  and  by  the  latter  from  the  nests  of  Sphex. 
The  interesting  point  is,  following  the  observation  of  Miss  Oemler:  Does  the  fly 
usually  lay  its  eggs  ux^on  the  wasp,  and  are  they  carried  by  the  wasp  to  the  nest? 


UNIVERSITY  OF  FLORIDA 

llllilllllli 

3  1262  09216  6171 


